As the U.S. Supreme Court began its summer recess last week, it’s time to look at the high court’s review of California Supreme Court cases. The only matters of note were certiorari denials. (Let us know if we missed anything.)
There was one civil case cert denial:
- Pulliam v. HNL Automotive Inc. (2022) 13 Cal.5th 127, cert. denied (2023) 214 L.Ed.2d 336 [143 S.Ct. 566]. See: Attorney fees allowed in consumer credit lawsuits; SCOTUS will not review Supreme Court’s pro-consumer Holder Rule opinion.
All but one of the other cert denials were in automatic appeals affirming death sentences:
- People v. Wright (2021) 12 Cal.5th 419, cert. denied (2022) 214 L.Ed.2d 132 [143 S.Ct. 303]. See: Supreme Court affirms death sentence of defendant who unsuccessfully tried to fire his lawyer and represent himself.
- People v. Holmes, McClain and Newborn (2022) 12 Cal.5th 719, cert. denied sub nom. Newborn v. California (2022) 214 L.Ed.2d 180 [143 S.Ct. 369]. See: Death sentences affirmed despite disagreement on stun belt use and Batson.
- People v. Poore (2022) 13 Cal.5th 266, cert. denied (2022) 214 L.Ed.2d 282 [143 S.Ct. 494]. See: Death sentence affirmed for white supremacist gang member.
- The one non-death penalty case — In re Milton (2022) 13 Cal.5th 893, cert. denied (2023) 214 L.Ed.2d 359 [143 S.Ct. 609]. See: Divided Supreme Court limits limit on judicial fact finding for sentence enhancements.
- People v. Bracamontes (2022) 12 Cal.5th 977, cert. denied (2023) 214 L.Ed.2d 387 [143 S.Ct. 739]. See: Despite improper shackling during trial, death penalty affirmed for young girl’s murder that occurred 12 years before the defendant’s arrest.
- People v. Mataele (2022) 13 Cal.5th 372, cert. denied (2023) 214 L.Ed.2d 452 [143 S.Ct. 751]. See: Death penalty affirmed by divided vote.
- People v. Ng (2022) 13 Cal.5th 448, cert. denied (2023) 214 L.Ed.2d 452 [143 S.Ct. 750]. See: Death penalty affirmed for serial murderer.
- People v. Pineda (2022) 13 Cal.5th 186, cert. denied (2023) 215 L.Ed.2d 140 [143 S.Ct. 1005]. See: Supreme Court affirms death penalty for two murders, one of a witness to the other murder.
- People v. Ramirez (2022) 13 Cal.5th 997, cert. denied (2023) 215 L.Ed.2d 192 [143 S.Ct. 1027]. See: Death penalty affirmed despite prosecution’s inconsistent positions.
- People v. Thomas (2023) 14 Cal.5th 327, cert. denied (2023) 2023 WL 3696202. See: Supreme Court affirms death penalty for defendant already sentenced to life in prison in Texas.
The list of cert denials doesn’t include those concerning California Supreme Court decisions without opinions, such as State Bar matters and summary denials of habeas corpus or writ petitions.
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