People v. Tran, S165998, an automatic appeal, included an issue involving the retroactivity of the provision in Assembly Bill No. 333 (Stats. 2021, ch. 699) permitting the bifurcation of gang allegations at trial (Pen. Code, § 1109).

Held: “The question of whether section 1109 applies retroactively is the subject of a split of authority among the Courts of Appeal. (See e.g., People v. Burgos (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 550, 566?567 [292 Cal. Rptr. 3d 587], review granted July 13, 2022, S274743; People v. Ramos (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 1116, 1131 [293 Cal. Rptr. 3d 170]; People v. Ramirez (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 48, 65 [294 Cal.Rptr.3d 472], review granted Aug. 17, 2022, S275341.) We decline to resolve this split here because we conclude that any asserted error in failing to bifurcate was harmless as to Tran’s guilt verdicts and penalty judgment.” The court did determine that the failure to bifurcate does not constitute structural error. This case was decided on 8/29/2022.

Review on this issue was also granted with briefing deferred in:

• People v. Buchanan (B305671) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 7/13/2022 (S274254)
• People v. Burgos (2022) 77 Cal.App.5th 550, review granted 7/13/2022 (S274743)
• People v. Gonzalez (G060374) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 7/13/2022 (S274915)
• People v. Harper (A153332) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 7/13/2022 (S274930)
• People v. Jones (B306118) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 7/13/2022 (S274606)
• People v. Phenneger (F078550) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 7/27/2022 (S274865)
• People v. Avendano (F079411) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 8/10/2022 (S275083)
• People v. Castaneda (B307392, B310635) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 8/10/2022 (S274689)
• People v. Gonzalez (H046836) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 8/10/2022 (S275113)
• People v. Perez (F080852) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 8/10/2022 (S275089)
• People v. Perez (2022) 78 Cal.App.5th 192, review granted 8/17/2022 (S275090/B300396)
• People v. Ramirez (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 48, review granted 8/17/2022 (S275341/H047847)
• People v. Zaragoza (F080295) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 8/17/2022 (S275101)
• People v. Spicer (B308931) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 8/24/2022 (S275141)
• People v. Pimentel (E071786) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 8/31/2022 (S275378)
• People v. Casillas (B306934) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 9/14/29/14022 (S275766)
• People v. Lewis (B306777, B310252) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 9/14/2022 (S275635)
• People v. Herrera (B298686) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 9/21/2022 (S275743)