When Charged With a Crime ®

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge effect on all of our lives. Few have been affected more than those navigating the criminal courts. Throughout the past 5 months, we have been providing our clients, social media followers, and eNewsletter readers with an outline of the situation in San Diego. If we can all agree on one thing about COVID-19, it is that it is ever-changing. We have done our best to adapt and pivot with the changes, disseminating information as we learn it. Below is a summary of the 3 categories your case may fall into and what you can expect, beginning September 10.

**Please note these 3 categories apply if your case is in downtown San Diego, Chula Vista, or El Cajon. Vista has yet to release how they will be conducting business moving forward.

New virtual court dates (on Microsoft Teams) have been set, beginning with appearances on September 10. While clients should be allowed by the court to appear remotely from their own home, within reason, it will be our preference that our clients with felony matters be personally present in our office for the appearance. There are many reasons for this preference, and all of them are for your protection. I assure you that precautions will be in place for our safety. New dates, for much later in the fall or beyond, will be scheduled at these September appearances, unless there’s an opportunity to favorably resolve your case in September.

“Beginning around October 1” there will be status conferences set, which will also be held remotely. Your presence will not be necessary at these remote hearings. The attorneys and the judge will discuss the next steps (i.e. another readiness conference, a preliminary hearing, motions, etc.) and new future dates will be set. We will let all of our “Category 2” clients know the status of their cases once we hear from the Court.

Beginning November 1, we should expect to receive notice of the new arraignment date, which should also be conducted remotely.

Click on the video above to learn more about the current state of affairs at the San Diego Superior Court and how it may affect your case or the case of a loved one.  We also encourage you to follow our attorneys on social media to stay up to date on all the changes moving forward.

David P. Shapiro: @DPShapiro on Twitter; @DavidPShapiroLaw on Instagram

Stefano Molea: @MoleaLaw on Twitter; @SanDiegoCriminalDefense on Instagram

Ally Keegan: @AllyKeeganLaw on Twitter & Instagram.

Legal Assistant Brooke Walker is the first voice you usually hear when you call our firm. We’ve designated Brooke as our “Director of First Impressions,” due in large part to her innate ability to calm those who are calling our office during what may be the most stressful times of their lives.

Keeping up the recent trend of all LOODPS assistants being San Diego natives, Brooke was thrilled to be able to return home after college at Northern Arizona University. Her goal is to pursue a law degree, having been accepted to law school and deferring for one year. Brooke applied for a position with our firm after connecting with our mission statement of helping good people regain control of their future when charged with a crime. Since joining the firm in the mid-pandemic, Brooke has already secured co-Employee of the Month honors (July 2020) with fellow assistant Alyssa Rodriguez. Click here or on the picture above for additional information about this month’s featured LOODPS team member, Brooke Walker.