Supreme Court affirms death sentence for defendant charged 23 years after murder

In a unanimous opinion authored by Justice Ming Chin, the Supreme Court today affirms the death penalty judgment in People v. Cordova.  It wasn’t until 2002 that the defendant was charged with the 1979 murder that led to the death sentence, but the court rejects his arguments that investigators were negligent in not charging him sooner and that the precharging delay was prejudicial.  The court also finds unconvincing the defendant’s other contentions, many having to do with the DNA evidence that led to his arrest and conviction.