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  • Testimonials

    My case was a worst case scenario, when I called Todd for help I was a 48 year old professional with no criminal background. I knew I could rely on Todd as we had known each other for years and I knew him to be an excellent lawyer and well respected by his peers as a seasoned and skilled attorney. Todd informed me of what he expected to accomplish and the worst that could happen. I thought he was extremely patient and understanding with me and I was able to communicate with him whenever I needed. I felt completely protected throughout the entire process. The only thing I did not know about Todd was how incredibly experienced and knowledgeable he is and his unwavering commitment to protecting his clients. The result I received was well beyond my expectations. I was given a suspended sentence, probation and allowed to rebuild my life. I know without Todd I would never have received such a sentence. His ability to work with the prosecution, convince the Judge to do the right thing and his no nonsense manner impressed me and I recommend him to those who need the best criminal defense lawyer. — - Rob M.

    I’ve been a private investigator for over 15 years and I specialize in criminal defense cases. I’ve worked with hundreds of attorneys over the years and worked closely with Todd Melnik on several. I could count on one hand how many lawyers I would trust with my own family. Melnik is one. Many veteran attorneys care more about squeezing out your last dollar than defending you. Todd Melnik is passionate, diligent and presents cases for the best possible outcome. It’s a honor to have my name affiliated with his office. — - Leigh-Anne Salinas, Chief Investigator

    Todd, I can’t thank you enough and will never forget your hard work, tenacity and responsiveness during this seemingly unbearable time. I am grateful for the outcome you actualized, in addition to the second chance Jeffrey will now receive. I know my son was facing life in prison, but a 6 year deal was more than we had ever hoped for. Thank you so much for your hard work and caring so much about my son. — - Laura B.

    I was charged with five counts of assault weapon sales with gang allegations. Mr. Melnik took over my case as my criminal defense attorney. His availability to discuss my case was impressive. He always returns calls and is extremely professional. Immediately after accepting my case, Mr. Melnik conducted intensive research on the types of weapons I was being accused of. He wanted to make sure the weapons were in fact illegal in California. He discovered one of the weapons was legal and it was dropped from my charges. After multiple court appearances, and after conducting an interview with the ATF’s informant, Mr. Melnik discovered the he was not being truthful about my gang affiliation and the gang allegations were dropped. Mr. Melnik discussed my case with the District Attorney on several occasions. After first wanting to send me to prison, after discussions with Mr. Melnik for over a year, the District Attorney gave me a plea bargain in which I obtained three years probation with no jail time at all! Overall, Mr. Melnik is a very professional attorney with a lot of experience and an exceptional defense record. You can’t go wrong with him. — - Jose P.

    • Practices Areas

    Federal Writs of Habeas Corpus Lawyer Los Angeles

    What is Habeas Corpus? Habeas corpus is a legal proceeding through which you can challenge a final conviction. Habeas corpus can also used in other situations, such as to challenge the amount of bond. Sometimes it is also used in contempt cases to challenge a contempt order. However, the most common use is to attack final convictions. Generally, habeas corpus is limited to complaints involving the violation of constitutional rights, or the jurisdiction of a court to hear a case.

    Habeas corpus cannot take the place of an appeal, and therefore most issues must be raised on direct appeal. There are also several reasons for doing so. The most important one is that the standard of review is more lenient on direct appeal, than on habeas corpus. Relief can be obtained on a direct appeal where there is an error that contributes to a conviction or sentence. In many cases, the burden is on the state to prove the error was harmless. In habeas corpus, the burden shifts to the defendant to establish harm. The standard is different, in that a defendant must show a substantial injury which requires more than establishing the error was harmless. Another reason is that more issues can be raised on direct appeal than on habeas. Claims involving statutory violations, evidentiary rulings and procedural rulings generally can be raised only on direct appeal.

    Attorney Todd Melnik is one of the most sought after criminal defense lawyers when it comes to filing Petitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus and federal or state criminal appeals. Click here for a sample brief filed for a client to see the complexity and skill that is put into an appellate brief.

    There are few lawyers who regularly handle writ cases in state and federal court. This area of law is extremely complex and requires someone who has knowledge of both the procedure and the applicable law, since many cases are dismissed on procedural grounds without ever addressing the merits. Mr. Melnik has knowledge for both.

    Other lawyers are familiar with Mr. Melnik’s reputations and they recommend him to other clients.

    Mr. Melnik is dedicated to his clients and their cases. He is a thorough and skillful writ and appellate attorney. Because of his exhaustive legal research and talented writing skills, he has the ability to accurately assess your specific case, determine which procedure to follow, and recommend a course of action that will bring the most beneficial results for his clients.