CRIMINAL APPEALS

1. KAREN HUNTER BIRD Karen Bird has over 30 years of experience practicing criminal law in the state of California. She attended UCLA for her undergraduate work, receiving a cum laude Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981 and a Secondary Teaching Credential in 1982. She then attended Loyola Law School where she was a member of the Scott Moot Court and Traynor Trial Advocacy teams. She competed at the National level in Trial Advocacy. She worked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office as a certified law student. READ MORE LEGAL DEFENSE SERVICES

2.  CRIMINAL APPEALS  DRIVING OFFENSES  DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES  MISDEMEANORS

3.  FELONY  WHITE COLLAR CRIMES  CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS  CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY

4.  JUVENILE  OTHER AREAS WHY DO YOU NEED A CRIMINAL ATTORNEY NOW? If you are arrested and released from custody, you have been given a date to return to court. Even though that court date may be several months away, you need to contact an attorney immediately. There may be work that can be done prior to the court date to make sure no charges are filed against you.

5. ABOUT OUR FIRM KAREN HUNTER BIRD Bird & Bird has been located in the South Bay since 1990. The firm was started by Karen Hunter Bird in 1990. In 1993, Karen was joined at the firm by partner George Bird. Karen and George practiced together as a “husband and wife team” until 2015 when George was appointed as a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Karen has over 30 years of experience in handling criminal law cases. She began her career as a certified law student with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Immediately after passing the bar, she worked at the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s office. Since 1990, Bird & Bird has represented thousands of clients in the South Bay area and other parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

6. Not only is Karen experienced in handling criminal cases, she prides her firm in client communication and client relationships. If you are her client, you will always speak with her if you have questions and see her in court handling your case. Karen will not ask you to write reviews and will avoid media attention to your case. OUR SERVICE We believe communication with our clients is of paramount importance; that is why we go above and beyond to be available to answer any and all questions you may have about your case. With the combination of our extensive knowledge, years of experience, caring and understanding, we can proudly say that the service you receive from Bird & Bird is unparalleled. Bird & Bird generally handle clients that have been referred to our firm by an attorney, judge, prosecutor, or former client. We do not send directed advertisement (“jail mail”), or make outrageous promises just to get business. Nor do we share information about past clients on our website, as we strive to keep our clients out of the press and handle their privacy with the utmost respect; which is also why we never ask our clients to give a public endorsement. We are available to analyze your specific needs during a one-on-one personal meeting. Karen Bird personally handles all cases, and our clients are never passed off to an associate lawyer or paralegal that may have less experience. Our law firm not only practices in the Torrance area, but serves clients all around the Southern California region. South Bay cities include: Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, El Segundo, Gardena and many other cities in the Southern California area. We also service Orange, San Bernadino, Riverside and Ventura Counties. If you believe we are capable of handling your criminal defense case, and worth further consideration, please call our office at 310.371.7711 for a free consultation, today.

7. OUR PHILOSOPHY We do not dabble in other practice areas such as family law, personal injury, tax or probate. Our commitment to clients in need of criminal defense is evident in our experience with virtually all types of adult and juvenile criminal matters, including serious and violent felonies, misdemeanors, infractions, traffic, and appeals. The practice encompasses state and federal court matters and related administrative proceedings as well. Over the years, Bird & Bird has helped thousands of clients at all stages of the criminal legal process, including pre-filing / investigation, pre- and post-indictment / preliminary hearing, pre-trial, trial, sentencing, post-conviction and appeal. We believe so strongly in our commitment to criminal defense that we dedicate valuable time and resources each year to the cause of improving the criminal justice system. Our longstanding memberships and involvement with organizations such as the Los Angeles County Bar Association Criminal Justice Section, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, and California Public Defenders Association demonstrate our seriousness and commitment to our field. At Bird & Bird, we believe a criminal defense firm should focus on just that: Criminal Defense. Most importantly, we believe in providing exceptional and unparalleled customer service to all of our clients, because attention and care are often most-needed and hardest-to- find when you are dealing with a criminal problem.

8. CRIMINAL APPEALS After you are convicted of a criminal offense, you may have the right to appeal that conviction. If you are found guilty after a court or jury trial, you have a short period of time – 30 days for a misdemeanor and 60 days for a felony – to file a notice of appeal in the court where you were sentenced. TYPES OF APPEALS Misdemeanor  Felony  Writ of Habeas Corpus  Writ of Mandamus Additionally, in some instances, even if you plead guilty you may be able to appeal certain issues in your case. If you fail to file a timely notice of appeal, you may lose your fight to appeal. Your trial attorney should prepare and file the notice of appeal but make sure you receive a copy which is stamped with a court filing date. After the notice of appeal is filed, the court will prepare a record on appeal which includes relevant transcripts of court proceedings and the court file. The entire appeal process is usually quite lengthy. Between the preparation of the record, filing of the briefs and presentation of oral argument, it could easily be a year or more before your appeal is final. If you were sentenced to custody you can request a stay of that portion of your sentence while the appeal is pending but a stay, especially in serious cases, is rarely granted. If you are looking for an appellate attorney for yourself, a family member or a friend, call Bird & Bird at (310) 371-7711 for a free consultation. DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES  If you have been charged with a driving offense it can cost you thousands of dollars in fines and possibly your driving privileges. In the event that you are required to attend a hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), it is prudent to have an attorney present to make sure that you are treated fairly. ADMINISTRATIVE PER SE HEARING When you are arrested for DUI with an allegation that your blood alcohol content is over a .08, you will be given a “temporary license.” This form allows you to continue to drive for 30 days after your arrest and informs you of DMV actions which will result from your

9. arrest. If you do nothing, your driving privilege will be suspended 30 days after your arrest. However, if within 10 days of your arrest, you request a hearing, the suspension can be stayed until the DMV conducts a hearing and makes a finding that there is sufficient evidence to support a suspension. When you retain Bird & Bird, we will immediately contact the DMV to make sure you can continue driving for as long as possible. We will represent you at the DMV hearing and you may not even need to appear. We will review the DMV documentation with you to discover any available defense to suspension. Potential suspension times vary depending on your record and the facts of your particular case. NEGLIGENT OPERATOR HEARING Every traffic offense, including DUIs, result in points assessed on your license by the DMV. Different offenses result in different points. The DMV website lists points assessed for every possible offense. If you receive too many points in a given period of time, the DMV will send you a written notice that your driving privilege is subject to suspension. You are entitled to a hearing during which the DMV can evaluate your need to drive and the mileage you normally drive. Bird & Bird will help you avoid a costly and inconvenient suspension of your driving privilege. SENIORS The DMV will reevaluate a person’s ability to drive if a request is submitted by law enforcement, a medical professional or a family member. If a senior citizen is stopped for a traffic infraction or involved in an accident and appears to be confused or disoriented, the police officer may submit a form to the DMV requesting that the driver be evaluated for either medical or physical inability to drive. The officer will give the driver a form which describes the potential action by the DMV. It is important to not ignore that form. If you receive, either personally or in writing, notice of an inquiry into your ability to drive you must call the DMV immediately – in some cases within five days – to request a hearing. The hearings are complicated because they require completion of a medical form by your doctor evaluating your ability to drive. Sometimes it is necessary to have several different doctors complete the form to address all of the potential issues. While the hearings are informal, the procedure can be very confusing and stressful for anyone, especially a senior who may be confronting the life-changing possibility of losing his or her ability to drive. Our attorneys will gently guide you through this confusing and frustrating process. PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITIONS HEARING The DMV will reevaluate a person’s ability to drive if a request is submitted by law enforcement, a medical professional or a family member. If you are stopped for a traffic infraction or involved in an accident and appear to be confused or disoriented, the police officer may submit a form to the DMV requesting that the driver be evaluated for either medical or physical inability to drive. The officer will give the driver a form which describes the potential action by the DMV. It is important to not ignore that form. If you receive, either personally or in writing, notice of an inquiry into your ability to drive you must call the DMV immediately – in some cases within five days – to request a hearing. The hearings are complicated because they require completion of a medical form by your doctor evaluating your ability to drive. Sometimes it is necessary to have several different doctors complete the form to address all of the physical or mental issues. While the hearings are informal, the procedure can be very confusing and stressful for anyone

10. who may be confronting the life-changing possibility of losing his or her ability to drive. Our attorneys will gently guide you through this confusing and frustrating process. LACK OF INSURANCE If the DMV is notified that you do not have adequate insurance, especially if you have been involved in an accident, you will receive a notice that your driving privilege may be suspended. You have a right to a hearing but that hearing must be requested in a timely manner. If you receive any letter from the DMV, contact Bird & Bird immediately so appropriate action can be taken. WRIT OF MANDAMUS Any action taken by the DMV is subject to review by the courts via a Petition for Writ of Mandamus. If the action of the DMV is not supported by law, the court will issue a “Writ” ordering the DMV to change its decision. These proceedings are complicated and require the services of an attorney with significant appellate experience. The attorneys of Bird and Bird have extensive experience representing clients at their DMV hearings and making sure that their rights are protected. Contact us at (310) 371- 7711 for a free consultation and case review. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY Crimes against property can be filed as either felonies or misdemeanors. The seriousness of the offense will generally depend on the amount of damage or the danger to the public. SOME EXAMPLES OF CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY ARE: Theft – Theft is the taking of property owned by someone else without the owner’s consent while intending to deprive the owner of it permanently or to remove it from the owner’s possession for so extended a period of time that the owner would be deprived of a major portion of the value or enjoyment of the property. The property can be moved even a small distance and kept for any period of time, however brief. Burglary (Commercial and Residential) – To prove someone guilty of burglary the evidence must show that the defendant entered a building, a room within a building or a locked vehicle intending to commit a theft or other felony therein. There are two degrees of burglary. First degree is where the building entered is a residence (there are numerous legal definitions of what qualifies as a residence.) All other burglaries are second degree. Fraud/Embezzlement – Fraud is the use of a plan or scheme to deprive someone of their property. Such plan or scheme includes the making of false claims or promises. Vandalism/Graffiti/Trepass Computer Crimes

11. The criminal defense law firm of Bird & Bird, Attorneys at Law, is experienced in the representation of people charged with criminal acts including property crimes. They will also work tirelessly to make sure that you receive the best result possible. To schedule a free legal consultation and review of your case, call (310) 371-7711 to meet with them to discuss your circumstances. BLOG United States Supreme Court Rules That The 4th Amendment Permits Warrantless Breath Tests Incident To Arrest For DUI But Not For Warrantless Blood Tests By Admin | Sep 14, 2016 | Uncategorized UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT RULES THAT THE 4TH AMENDMENT PERMITS WARRANTLESS BREATH TESTS INCIDENT TO ARREST FOR DUI BUT NOT WARRANTLESS BLOOD TESTS The US Supreme Court Reviewed Three Cases: Birchfield (North Dakota), Beylund (North Dakota) And Bernard (Minnesota). ... CONTINUE READING Why Do You Need A Criminal Attorney Now? By Admin | Sep 1, 2016 | Uncategorized If You Are Arrested And Released From Custody, You Have Been Given A Date To Return To Court. Even Though That Court Date May Be Several Months Away, You Need To Contact An Attorney Immediately. There May Be Work That Can Be Done Prior To The Court Date To Make Sure... CONTINUE READING Karen Hunter Bird Is Lead Counsel On People V. Macabeo Argued Today Before The California Supreme Court By Admin | Sep 1, 2016 | Uncategorized Mr. Macabeo Was Riding His Bicycle At 2:00 In The Morning. He Failed To Stop At A Stop Sign Before He Made A Left Turn. Police Officers, Who Were Following 20 Feet Behind Mr. Macabeo In A Marked Vehicle With Its Headlights Off, Detained Mr. Macabeo For Failure To Stop...

12. CONTACT 3424 Carson St, Suite 460 Torrance, CA 90503 (310) 371-7711