PEOPLE v. SHIRAKAWA Santa Clara County Superior Court
Jay represented Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Chairman George Shirakawa. This high profile case involved an allegation that Mr. Shirakawa created a false campaign flier that influenced the outcome of a City Council election. Despite a public outcry, Jay negotiated a sentence of 45 days of community service.
U.S. v. LIGHTER United States District Court for the Northern District of California
Jay was appointed to represent Mr. Lighter after Mr. Lighter was convicted at trial. He faced a sentence that would have him spend the rest of his life in prison. Jay quickly realized that Mr. Lighter suffered from serious mental illness. After a three year struggle, Mr. Lighter was found incompetent and not a danger to the community. Over strenuous objection from the Tax Division of the Department of Justice following multiple evidentiary hearings, Mr. Lighter was released from custody and Jay put him on a plane to Hawaii at the expense of the Court.
PEOPLE v. ZUNIGA-GARCIA Santa Cruz County Superior Court
Mr. Zuniga-Garcia was charged with an assault with gang allegations as a third strike. The case was based on the testimony of the victim of the assault. At a preliminary hearing, after a two day cross examination, the Judge found the witness to be incredible and dismissed the charges against Mr. Zuniga-Garcia.
