Bergstrom and Bruce

07/11/2023

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“California Criminal Law for Oregon Attorneys” Erik Bruce, licensed in Oregon and California, will discuss the intricacies of practicing criminal law in California for Oregon attorneys. This free presentation will be followed by a question and answer period to assist Oregon attorneys who have ca...

06/12/2023

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“California Criminal Law for Oregon Attorneys” Erik Bruce, licensed in Oregon and California, will discuss the intricacies of practicing criminal law in California for Oregon attorneys. This free presentation will be followed by a question and answer period to assist Oregon attorneys who have ca...

06/04/2023

Oregon Office Hour Monday, June 5, 2023

“California Criminal Law for Oregon Attorneys” Erik Bruce, licensed in Oregon and California, will discuss the intricacies of practicing criminal law in California for Oregon attorneys. This free presentation will be followed by a question and answer period to assist Oregon attorneys who have ca...

05/23/2023

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We will again examine our firm's strong and effective advocacy which led to the dismissal of first degree murder charges against our client, Raider Damron, in Siskiyou County Superior Court. This tragic case remains unsolved. Police initially arrested our client due mainly to the fact that he was th...

05/12/2023

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We will be discussing the dismissal of the Damron first degree murder case at our next Office Hour with Professor Bruce, the lead attorney in the Damron matter. Time: 1:00 Date: May 16, 2023 Location: Law Office of Bergstrom and Bruce 122 E. Main Street, Suite 400-24 Medford, OR 97501

05/12/2023

Check out my blog post

Strong and effective advocacy by the Law Offices of Bergstrom and Bruce led to the dismissal of first degree murder charges against our client, Raider Damron, in Siskiyou County Superior Court. This tragic case remains unsolved. Police initially arrested our client due mainly to the fact that he was...

09/16/2022

Constitution Day arrives amid tribalism that threatens to swamp citizens' shared attachment to the nation.

09/22/2020

There are many reasons why one finds themselves on the wrong side of the law. At The Bruce Law Firm, we’ve discovered that one of the primary causes can be traced to one’s struggle with their mental health. California law has an answer mental health diversion.

Many attorneys are unfamiliar with California Penal Code section 1001.36. This law allows many people accused of a crime to undergo outpatient treatment and, upon successful completion, to have all their charges dismissed.

At The Bruce Law Firm, we will help determine your eligibility for this amazing opportunity and file a petition on your behalf to help you take advantage.

You may be facing serious charges that are not your fault. Don’t’ go to jail. Call us today and let us help.

08/28/2020

This just in from the California Supreme Court:

"Late Wednesday the State Supreme Court posted an order on the docket of In re Humphrey (2018) 19 Cal.App.5th 1006, pending as # S247278, granting precedential value to Part III of the Court of Appeal decision in the case. That section of the appellate opinion holds that due process requires consideration of the defendant’s financial circumstances in setting conditions of release. It also holds that bail schedules cannot be used by the court in setting conditions for release of a defendant when pretrial detention is not required."

Poor people will now have the same rights as those that can afford bail. A great victory for justice.

06/18/2020

As a former member of law enforcement (deputy district attorney) with more than 25 years’ experience in the criminal justice system, I’ve had the opportunity to see the formative years that have led to the recent protests. Having also taught a college course on race since 2008, I’ve long maintained there is no mystery what could be done to reform the way we mete out justice. Some suggestions.

1. End the blue wall. If a cop does something bad other cops should identify and testify about it. They serve and protect us not each other. Stop allowing them to behave like the mafia.
2. Demilitarize the police. We only have SWAT teams because of the war on drugs. End it. Get rid of the macho equipment and attitude. Are there some times that the cops wish they had tanks? Probably. But don’t build an entire system around the once in a career circumstance. Its ok to walk away from conflict if it’s too dangerous. You can get them the next time. You’re the police.
3. Reform probation. Probation officers sit with the district attorneys in court and act as if they are an arm of law enforcement. They work for the judicial system. They should be social workers first. I tell clients to call their probation officers daily and demand help finding jobs, housing, etc. They should help keep people away from crime by helping people get straight. Don’t expect someone who has never been taught to show up on time or pay bills to miraculously know how to do it. Teach them. Help them. And disarm the probation officers so they act like social workers.
4. Create a large force of actual social workers to help respond to events that don’t require a gun. The police would get on board with not having to arrest people for crimes that simply require mental health intervention.
5. Get out into the community and know people. Walk a beat. Once you get to know someone it’s hard to hate them. You’ll know more about crime before it happens. The police are like the rest of us concerned citizens that care about others. At least, like the rest of us, most of the time. We mostly agree who the bad people are and mostly agree who should go to prison. Let’s legislate from this middle ground.

The times they are a changing. We need to all change with them together.