He chaired the Assembly subcommittee that put together a package of legislation that eventually became initiatives that the public got to vote on.

However, the California Department of Fish and Game opposed any introduction of ferrets into the state, and the bills failed.

[17] With the defendant refusing a plea bargain, facing up to 13 years in jail and US$13,000.00 in fines, Judge Howard Shore admonished Olson's attorney, Tom Tosdal, from mentioning the First Amendment and political speech references during the trial.

[18] Goldsmith and Filner were in conflict almost from the day Filner took office, over several issues including medical marijuana, tourism funding, cuts to the City Attorney budget, road paving bonds, and the presence of Goldsmith's aide at a confidential city meetings.

[19][20] Goldsmith was a key figure in the August 2013 mediated negotiations that led to Filner's agreeing to resign.

In March 2017 Goldsmith returned to private practice, joining the San Diego law firm Procopio as an of-counsel attorney on its litigation team.