On Monday morning, the Supreme Court will file its opinion in People v. Oyler. (Briefs here; oral argument video here.)
Oyler is an automatic direct appeal from a June 2009 judgment of death. The defendant was convicted of setting the 2006 Esperanza wildfire that caused the deaths of five firefighters. His opening brief says this “appears to be the first case in the United States in which a defendant was sentenced to death for starting a wildland fire.”
This will be the last of four opinions for cases argued in February. Other argued but undecided cases are the two March calendar matters (one opinion due by June 2; in the other, the People v. Barrett death penalty appeal, the opinion could be filed as late as June 26 because of post-argument briefing) and the six on the April calendar (opinions due by July 7).
The Oyler opinion can be viewed Monday starting at 10:00 a.m.
