Law Office of Diane T. Letarte

04/11/2026

Many years ago: I was asked to speak about the parole hearing process to appellate attorneys. It was videotaped: I made a podcast for the family of the incarcerated. Info is a bit dated but most of it is still valid today!

Education Podcast · This 1/2 hour podcast talks about parole suitability hearings, that take place in the 33+ State prisons in California on a weekly basis.This podcast touches on the Suitability Factors needed to be fou…

03/11/2026

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for the next annual LIFER BBQ in June

02/13/2026

Play it again Sam! My pc290 client was found suitable twice….. and governor Newsom keeps sending my client to En Banc. Wish us luck for next week s En Banc review. Our law office has written a rebuttal letter to the governor which is sent to the BPH executive office to Affirm the Grant- we will know more next week. ZZZZZZ

01/02/2026

12/26/2025

My Day off….. joyeux Noël and or merry Christmas!

12/03/2025

Happy holidays to all. We will be close for 1 week from December 9 to 16 so that we can visit family and friends as well as take a well deserved break for this year!

10/29/2025

A big congratulations to my client (pc290) to be found suitable AGAIN. Hopefully it will stand so he can smell the roses from a free community. Unfortunately, these cases tend to get sent to En Banc review. We will be ready again …. If the governor weighs in.

07/31/2025

A big congratulations to my youth offender client found suitable for release! At The initial parole hearing he got 5 year denial (2022). He went back to do hard work on himself. We filed a petition to advance his hearing. At his 2nd hearing 7/31/25 today: he received a Grant! He earned three AA degrees (photo not his tassels) but for illustration!

07/02/2025

Great fun was had by all attendees at the annual Lifer BBQ picnic! See my blog link

Attorney Diane T. Letarte: LIFER Parole Hearings CALL 619-233-3688. BLOG Focuses on the Law/News that impacts inmates with LIFE, long-term DSL (SB260 & 261, AB1308, 3X'er, LWOP) Suitability Hearings are governed mostly by Penal Code 3041, et seq. LAWRENCE and SHAPUTIS CA Supreme Court cases are 2008...

06/27/2025

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-18/attorney-who-offered-false-hope-to-inmates-families-agrees-to-disbarment

Aaron Spolin, a former McKinsey consultant, signed up thousands of inmate clients by stoking families' hopes for release.

06/22/2025

Great fun was had by all at the annual Lifer BBQ picnic! I even ran into some of my clients- some that were released over 10 years ago!