High Court

Retroactive Application of SB 567 to Stipulated Plea Agreements

Case Name: People v. Mitchell (2026) 19 Cal.5th 729
Case #: S277314/A163476
Last Updated: May 18, 2026

Does Senate Bill No. 567 (Stats. 2021, ch. 731), which limits a trial court’s discretion to impose upper term sentences, apply retroactively to defendants sentenced pursuant to stipulated plea agreements?

Held:

Defendant who agreed to an upper term sentence pursuant to a plea bargain may invoke the retroactive benefit of SB 567’s changes to PC 1170(b) regarding her nonfinal judgment. SB 567 was enacted during defendant’s direct appeal from a guilty plea. The appropriate remedy is a remand where the defendant may invoke or waive current PC 1170(b) requirements. Invoking PC 1170(b) entitles defendant to a reduced middle term sentence only with prosecution and court agreement; without agreement, a defendant invoking PC 1170(b) may withdraw her plea and return to pre-plea status quo.

This case was decided on May 18, 2026. Justice Corrigan authored the unanimous opinion of the Court.

Review on this issue had also been granted with briefing deferred in:

First District

  • People v. Henry (A168133) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 11/20/2024 (S287265)

Second District

  • People v. Sovalbarro (B317652) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 12/28/2022 (S277121)
  • People v. Caro (B315233) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 1/11/2023 (S277123)
  • People v. Kelly (2022) 87 Cal.App.5th 1, review granted 3/22/2023 (S278503/B318060)
  • People v. Johnson (B319217) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 4/12/2023 (S278470)
  • People v. Mitchell (B316173) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 4/12/2023 (S278841)
  • People v. Smith (B317264) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 5/17/2023 (S279425)
  • People v. Megaw (B324731) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 1/10/2024 (S282909)
  • People v. Weldon (B321956) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 3/12/2024 (S283637)
  • People v. Wilcher (B336379) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 10/15/2025 (S292813)
  • People v. Martinez (B340095) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 12/30/2025 (S293979)
  • People v. Ly (B340433) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 2/25/26 (S294775)
  • People v. Brissette (B338984) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 4/15/26 (S295090)

Third District

  • People v. Hernandez (C095190) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 12/28/2022 (S277044)
  • People v. Nixon (C094767) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 12/28/2022 (S277219)
  • People v. Toschi (C095977) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 4/19/2023 (S278592)
  • People v. Roberts (C095697) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 6/28/2023 (S280199)
  • People v. Givins (C096084) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 7/19/2023 (S280465)
  • People v. Carbajal (C097129) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 10/11/2023 (S281337)
  • People v. Lee (C096700) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 11/1/2023 (S281785)
  • People v. Mitchell (C097390) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 12/20/2023 (S282711)
  • People v. Parkinson (C098506) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 12/31/2024 (S288104)
  • People v. Herrick (C101104) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 7/23/2025 (S291347)
  • People v. Cook (C100363) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 8/13/2025 (S291723)
  • People v. Allen (C101038) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 12/30/2025 (S294116)
  • People v. Smith (C102353) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 1/14/2026 (S294276)

Fourth District

  • People v. Armendarez (E079166) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 1/17/2024 (S282900)
  • People v. Rodriguez (D083007) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 5/15/2024 (S284321)
  • People v. Martinez (E081737) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 10/16/2024 (S286856)
  • People v. Marquez (D086920) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 4/15/26 (S295110)

Fifth District

  • People v. Sallee (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 330, review granted 4/26/2023 (S278690/F083728)
  • People v. Tovar (F082662) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 5/31/2023 (S279613)
  • People v. Montes (F083319) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 6/14/2023 (S279843)
  • People v. Hatch (F087272) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 5/28/25 (S289927)
  • People v. Mitts (F086887) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 9/17/25 (S292366)

Sixth District

  • People v. Todd (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 373, review granted 4/26/2023 (S279154/H049129)
  • People v. De La Rosa Burgara (2023) 97 Cal.App.5th 1054, review granted 2/21/2024 (S283452/H049363)
  • People v. Rodriguez (H049398) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 6/18/25 (S290731)