Appeals

Procedures When Appointed Counsel Determines that an Appeal from an Order Denying Postconviction Relief Lacks Arguable Merit

(1) What procedures must appointed counsel and the Courts of Appeal follow when counsel determines that an appeal from an order denying postconviction relief lacks arguable merit? (2) Are defendants entitled to notice of these procedures? Held: In People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 [158 Cal. Rptr. 839, 600 P.2d 1071] (Wende), we held the Courts of Appeal must…

Case: People v. Delgadillo (2022) 14 Cal.5th 216
Case Number: S266305
Updated: February 15, 2023
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True Finding on Gang-Killing Special Circumstance and Chiu Error / Harmless Error Review

(1) Does a true finding on a gang-killing special circumstance (Pen. Code, §190.2, subd. (a)(22)) render Chiu error (People v. Chiu (2014) 59 Cal.4th 155) harmless? (2) To what extent or in what manner, if any, may a reviewing court consider the evidence in favor of a legally valid theory in assessing whether it is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the jury…

Case: In re Lopez (Sept. 25, 2019) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 1/15/2020
Case Number: S258912/A152748
Updated: July 27, 2022
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Prejudice Standard on Appeal for SB 567 Issue

What prejudice standard applies on appeal when determining whether a case should be remanded for resentencing in light of newly-enacted Senate Bill No. 567 (Stats. 2021, ch. 731)? Review on this issue has also been granted with briefing deferred in: First District People v. Whyte (A160769) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 1/11/2023 (S277463) People v. Ross (A163242) [nonpub. opn.], review granted…

Case: People v. Lynch (May 27, 2022, C094174) [nonpub. opn.], review granted 8/10/2022
Case Number: S274942/C094174
Updated: May 3, 2023
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Mistake of Fact Instructional Error and Prejudice Standard

Did the Court of Appeal err in holding an instructional error on the defense of mistake of fact harmless? In the circumstances of this case, which standard of prejudice applies to an error in instructing on the defense of mistake of fact: that of People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818 or that of Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18? Held: Early one…

Case: People v. Hendrix (2022) 13 Cal.5th 933
Case Number: S265668
Updated: August 22, 2022
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