[quote=flu] … There’s also unnecessary waste in our legal systems. Particularly how ridiculously expensive.legal counsel is. Just a few months ago, I was in a jury selection group for a case that was going to trial over someone that shoplifted some toiletry items at Walmart. Seriously, we need a two day trial for this?[/quote]flu, the crime you describe here is a misdemeanor in CA and typically adjudicated quickly and sentenced without trial. Your “defendant” must have had numerous (2 or more, but likely more than 2) priors of petty theft and/or grand theft.
The facts of the crime and the circumstances surrounding the offender often dictate whether prosecutors and judges go with the misdemeanor or felony label….
