As we step into 2025, I've written a true story — only the names and minor details changed to protect (the truly) innocent — showing the importance of strategy and The Criminal Defense Lawyer's Toolkit. In the post, I recount a case where my client faced what were then serious felony charges. My client insisted on one particular type of defense, but I knew the case called for a different approach. Using the right legal tools, I successfully challenged the prosecution's evidence and secured a dismissal. This post explains why you should hire a lawyer you trust — and then you should trust that lawyer! A skilled attorney's training and experience are critical in navigating complex legal systems. You don't want a "one trick pony" as the client in this story originally hoped to find. Success depends on choosing the right strategy — not just the most obvious one. You need a comprehensive defense. And that means a good lawyer with a full toolkit, ready to adapt to each unique case. You're not ordinary. Why should your lawyer be? This post reminds readers why trusting your lawyer's strategy is vital. Curious how the case played out? Click the "Learn More" button to find out. Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy New Year! Whether you're facing legal challenges or just need guidance, I'm here to help. I'm available for emergency situations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Except Leap Year! (Then it's 366 days.) Find out why you can trust me and call today!

As the year is about to draw to a close — and many law offices are themselves closed for the holidays — this is your friendly reminder that the Law Office of Rick Horowitz is always available when you need us. And, in addition to being available, I'm always providing information to help you understand your rights, and also the ways in which so-called "law enforcement" tries to violate those rights, or get you to abandon your own rights. Too often, the police call someone and say, "We'd like to have a little chat. Someone has said you did something, and we want to hear your side of the story." This is a LIE. The police do not want to "hear your side of the story." If they're calling you, they've already decided that they've good reason to belief the person who has "said you did something." NOW what they want is to see if they can get you to confess to having done what you were "said" to have done. It makes their job so much easier, you see, if they can get you to admit to a crime without having to go through all the hassle of proving you did what you were "said" to have done. So, again, a reminder: You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to have an attorney present when you are being questioned. If there is no attorney present with you, then just don't answer any questions. (Yes. It's really that simple. The police, though, will try to make you think it's not. Remember, they WANT you to talk.) For more information, click the link to learn more.

If you've kept up with the updates here on my Google Business Profile, you'll know that over here at the Law Office of Rick Horowitz, I've been working my buns off to update the website so that it contains more useful information. Yep! Sometimes we even fall asleep at the desk at the end of the day! We've added all sorts of things. And just so you'll be able to have a few more details, I recently wrote a blog post that covers all the latest sh-addigans going on. So check it out, because among other things, you'll learn more about the newsletter, which is a fantastic way to get a FREE gift — either an ePamphlet that tells you how to hire a criminal defense lawyer, or an ePamphlet that tells you how the criminal process, and legal fees, work. What have you got to lose? All it costs you is a click and a few minutes to read about something that has the potential to change your life, or that of someone you love. So click now to read about all the new and FREE legal resources, including how to get the newsletter!

A new addition to my website: the Criminal Defense Help Center. What's this? Well, it's going to be an ongoing resource center for people looking for information relating to criminal law from a bona fide criminal defense lawyer. (That's me!) To get the ball rolling, I've set this up as a Menu option, which appears in the header of every page. And, also to get the ball rolling, it starts off already with three great links: * Counties I Cover * Courthouse Guides * Criminal Defense FAQs Each of those pages contains links to other new pages — or, in the case of the FAQs, answers the FAQs — all written by yours truly. (That's me again!) The Courthouse Guides link, for example, goes a page that talks about, and then lists, the four Courthouse Guides that I've written so far. Check it out. Then check back regularly to see what's new! I plan to add information about bail hearings, areas of law with discussions of cases and statutes, and information on how criminal cases work. And it's all FREE!

Interested in learning "How to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer"? You don't want to hire the wrong one. This isn't even about me! It's about how to evaluate the criminal defense lawyers you find on the Internet, or who are mentioned to you by other people, or who you run into at the courthouse and ask for their cards. I wrote this 13-page PDF (8.5 by 11 page size) that gives valuable information on how to evaluate potential lawyers before they take your money. Learn how to determine before you make a single phone call or spend a single penny, how to find the best lawyer for you. What's the catch, you ask? I'm not gonna trick you: sign up for my once-a-month newsletter to get your FREE eGuide on "How to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer." That's it. You don't have to hire me! In fact, I insist that you NOT hire me before you evaluate me by the same rules I give you for how to evaluate any criminal defense lawyer. And my newsletter? ONCE-A-MONTH! That's it. That's all. Full of informative updates on legal things I've looked at, or written about, in the previous month. Links to updated Articles or Blog Posts. Pretty pictures, too! What are you waiting for? Don't you want to get the right lawyer? Save money? Find someone to fight? AND GET ONCE-A-MONTH EXTRAORDINARY INFORMATION FROM A REAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER? Click the Learn More link now to sign up and actually Learn More!

This has been a busy week! I've been updating and adding information to the website, especially for our Contact Page. If you visit there now, you'll see that I've created a number of "accordion-style" FAQs. The questions/answers include topics relating to getting a free consultation, scheduling, reaching us, jail visits, and more. In addition, I created (so far) four — COUNT 'EM, FOUR! — Superior Court Guide Books. These guides are written by me, Criminal Defense Attorney Rick Horowitz, for each of the four major counties in which I practice: Fresno County (where my office is located), Madera County, Tulare County (Visalia & Porterville), and Kings County. Of course, I'll go to other counties, as well. But these are the ones you will find me in frequently. And I've used my knowledge of each of these courthouses to craft a guide that will tell you how to get around. Literally, I explain which way to turn and where to go! If you're not from the area, I include information on parking and restaurants. I see you're eager to check them out! So just click on the button. If you want to go straight to the Guides, scroll to the bottom of the page. Once you've gone to one, each contains links to the others, or you can just keep returning to the Contact Page. Need Fresno criminal defense? Madera criminal defense? Tulare or Kings County criminal defense? I've got you covered! I even wrote the book on it! (Well, Guides.) Why wait? Click now!

Welcome to the Legal Haunted House Facing criminal charges can feel like stepping into a haunted house. You might be pulled over for a minor issue, only to learn there's a warrant out for you. Or perhaps officers show up at your door unexpectedly. However it happens, it's unsettling. As your Goblin Guide (aka criminal defense lawyer), I'll help you navigate this maze. From handling "skeletons" of past mistakes to defending you from "monsters" in the courtroom, I'm here to demystify the process. We'll tackle each phase together, ensuring you're never alone in the legal haunted house. With my experience and skills, I'll fight to secure the best possible outcome, guiding you toward an escape from the legal nightmares. Read the full post on my blog to learn more about surviving the legal haunted house.

I was working on one of my web pages today and it reminded me of what a lot of my clients say about me. I had used a Google Review in the post. The review talked about how I gave it to the potential client straight, told the truth, and didn't promise anything. The ONLY promise I ever make is to use my skills and experience as a criminal defense lawyer to give you the best defense that I can. The review went on to note that the case was rough. It was difficult. It was painful. "But," the client added, "the end result was what I wanted." That, of course, is exactly what I always aim for. But honesty requires that I tell you what the Rolling Stones sang, "You can't always get what you want." Yet, as they added, "But if you try sometime you'll find....You get what you need." So, in my law office, that's the mantra: I try ALL the time, to get what you want. And, often enough, we end up getting what you need. If you, or someone you love, is in trouble with the law, call me now. I promise one thing: I'll fight for what you want, and work hard to get what you need.

There are days when I just have to wonder at the brokenness of our system of "justice." I look at how things work, and realize that it's all about breaking people down, when it should be about taking what is broken, repairing it, and putting people back together. Our need for retribution often seems greater than our need for Justice. The recent execution in Missouri, over the objection of the prosecution and victim's family, even, shows that much of what happens in our courts is more about political gain for those who are responsible for running our institutions. Judges do what judges do in order to keep their positions. They are, after all, elected. For this same reason, most are also former prosecutors. And those who were defense attorneys quickly learn that they must shed that, and take on the black robes of the Super Prosecutor to keep their positions. But I stand ready to wade into that wasteland to fight for you, or your loved ones. To try to wrestle real Justice, Healing, and a Future not just for my clients, but for the world. We should all be working for the improvement of the world. Even when people make mistakes, our eyes should be on rehabilitation, not retribution. If you, or a loved one, are in trouble with the Law, call me at (559) 233-8886. I will fight for you. I understand the system. And I know how to fight it.

Getting ready for another day of serving clients always brings a smile to my face. This is especially true the week after a hard-fought battle that results in a win few expected. Certainly, the District Attorney did not expect us to win. And so it goes, as here I am, girded up for another battle. In this case, I told the prosecutor that we would likely win. He had a chance to resolve the case the way we wanted, but he rejected it. But Sun Tzu said it best. And we held to that advice. "Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win". ― Sun Tzu, The Art of War