Welcome to the Legal Vixen™ Podcast! Join us on this legal journey with engaging guests and humorous stories about past and present legal cases in both criminal and civil courts.
Disturbing the Peace: When CPS Cases Become Criminal Cases | Mitch Krems – Part 2
When can a CPS investigation turn into a criminal case, and can statements made in dependency court later create problems for a parent in criminal court?
In Part 2 of “Disturbing the Peace,” Legal Vixen host and trial attorney Karren Kenney continues her conversation with Orange County attorney Mitchell “Mitch” Krems about the complicated intersection of CPS investigations, juvenile dependency proceedings, restraining orders, and criminal defense. Karren and Mitch discuss what happens when CPS and law enforcement are investigating the same conduct, the strategic problems attorneys face when proceedings overlap, and why testimony or statements made in one case may have consequences in another.
The conversation also turns to Mitch's representation of a father facing felony child-endangerment charges arising from an Orange County e-bike/e-motorcycle case and the broader question it raises: When should parental decisions become a criminal matter?
Topics include: • When CPS investigations overlap with criminal investigations • How dependency proceedings can affect a criminal case • Protecting a client's rights when multiple cases are pending • Domestic violence cases involving both CPS and law enforcement • Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) proceedings • The consequences parents can face even without a criminal conviction • The Orange County e-bike/e-motorcycle prosecution • Parenting, discipline, and potential criminal liability • When parental conduct crosses the line into alleged child endangerment • Criminal defense strategy and dealing with prosecutors • Jury selection and the biases prospective jurors bring into court • Why due process and the right to counsel matter • The differences between criminal, civil, family, and dependency trials • How family court proceedings can create unexpected legal consequences
Karren and Mitch also trade courtroom stories and discuss jury selection, trial strategy, difficult clients, family law disputes, and some of the unusual situations attorneys encounter when one legal problem spills into another. Where should the line be drawn between protecting children, parental responsibility, and criminal prosecution?
20 Sept 2026
Disturbing the Peace: Restraining Orders, CPS & Family Court | Mitch Krems – Part 1
What happens when private family conflict ends up in court, and when should the government step in?
In Part 1 of Disturbing the Peace,” Legal Vixen host and trial attorney Karren Kenney sits down with Orange County attorney Mitchell “Mitch” Krems, founder of Family First Attorneys, to talk about domestic violence restraining orders, family court, CPS investigations, and the unexpected situations lawyers encounter when family disputes make their way into the courtroom. Mitch shares memorable stories from his restraining order practice, including unusual allegations, difficult custody disputes, social media evidence, Snapchat, online dating disputes, and cases where the evidence took an unexpected turn. Karren and Mitch also discuss what “disturbing the peace” can actually mean in a California restraining order case, and why domestic violence allegations do not necessarily require physical violence.
The conversation then turns to CPS and juvenile dependency cases, including what can happen when a social worker shows up at a parent's home, how seemingly innocent statements can become important to an investigation, and the difficult balance between cooperating with CPS and protecting a parent's rights.
Mitch also discusses his representation of a father facing felony child-endangerment charges in the highly publicized Orange County e-bike/e-motorcycle case, a subject we'll explore further as the conversation continues. Part 2 of “Disturbing the Peace” continues the conversation with Mitch Krems 🎙️ Legal Vixen Podcast Hosted by trial attorney Karren Kenney from Kenney Legal Defense
Learn more: https://kenneylegaldefense.us (https://kenneylegaldefense.us)
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8 Sept 2026
Behind the Bench: Courtroom Stories From a Retired Federal Court Clerk - Part 2
In this episode of the Legal Vixen Podcast, trial attorney Karren Kenney sits down again with retired federal courtroom deputy Lisa Bredahl for more hilarious stories from federal court.
After years of working alongside federal judges and managing jury trials, Lisa has seen just about everything, difficult lawyers, unpredictable jurors, unforgettable witnesses, pro se defendants, courtroom meltdowns, and moments when even the court staff struggled to keep a straight face.
Lisa shares some of her favorite courtroom stories, including:
-Two litigants who nearly came to blows when the judge left the courtroom
-The bizarre case that resulted in Lisa and a federal judge being sued over an alleged courtroom "panic button conspiracy"
-A luxury vacation lawsuit involving a safari, baboons, and one VERY unusual personal injury claim
-The attorney who tried to get out of jury duty, and ended up spending the entire day sitting in the jury room
-A criminal defendant representing himself who had to question himself on the witness stand
-Why talking too fast or talking over someone else can destroy your effectiveness in front of a jury
Lisa also gives attorneys practical advice about practicing in federal court, including one lesson every lawyer should remember: Be nice to the courtroom staff. She explains why courtroom deputies know far more about what's happening than attorneys may realize, and why being rude to a clerk, courtroom deputy, court reporter, or U.S. Marshal can leave an impression that lasts far longer than your court appearance.
Whether you're a trial lawyer, law student, future juror, or simply fascinated by what happens inside a federal courtroom, this episode gives you a perspective you rarely get to hear. For more about Trial Attorney Karren Kenney: https://kenneylegaldefense.us (https://kenneylegaldefense.us)
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