Tomorrow morning, the Supreme Court will file its opinion in People v. Cardenas. (Briefs here; oral argument video here.)
Cardenas is an automatic direct appeal from a March 2007 judgment of death. Counsel was appointed in January 2011. Initial briefing was completed in September 2019. In September 2022, the court directed supplemental briefing on “the significance, if any, of Assembly Bill No. 333 (Stats. 2021, ch. 699, § 3), People v. Valencia (2021) 11 Cal.5th 818 [see here], People v. Navarro (2021) 12 Cal.5th 285 [see here], and People v. Tran (Aug. 29, 2022, S165998) __ Cal.5th__ [see here], to the issues presented in this case.” (Links added.)
Cardenas will be the sixth opinion for the eight cases argued in late May. It is being filed outside the usual 90-day period because of post-argument briefing.
Post-argument briefing is also delaying six other opinions: Taking Offense v. State of California, argued in early May, and Los Angeles Police Protective League v. City of Los Angeles, argued in late May, could be decided as late as November 10 (see here); the death penalty appeal opinions in People v. Bankston, argued in early May, People v. Chhuon and Pan, argued in late May, and People v. Barrera, argued in June, might not file until January 12, 2026 (see here); and the opinion in People v. Superior Court (Guevara), argued in June, might not file until October 9.
The Cardenas opinion can be viewed tomorrow starting at 10:00 a.m.
