1

Filed 2/1/18

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA

THE PEOPLE, )

)

Petitioner, )

) S241231

v. )

) Ct.App. 4/2 E067296

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF RIVERSIDE )

COUNTY, )

) Riverside County

Respondent; ) Super. Ct. No. RIF1601012

)

PABLO ULLISSES LARA, JR., )

)

Real Party in Interest. )

____________________________________)

Real party in interest, Pablo Ullisses Lara, Jr. (hereafter, defendant), was 

charged in criminal (or adult) court with sex crimes allegedly committed in 2014 

and 2015 when he was 14 and 15 years old.1 The law then in effect permitted the 

prosecutor to charge the case directly in adult court. In November 2016, after the 

charges were filed, the electorate passed Proposition 57, the “Public Safety and 

Rehabilitation Act of 2016” (Proposition 57). Proposition 57 prohibits prosecutors 

from charging juveniles with crimes directly in adult court. Instead, they must 

commence the action in juvenile court. If the prosecution wishes to try the 

 

1 We will use the terms “adult court” and “criminal court” interchangeably to 

refer to the court system for adults and juveniles who are tried as adults, and to 

distinguish that system from the juvenile court system, where most juvenile 

matters are handled.
2

juvenile as an adult, the juvenile court must conduct what we will call a “transfer 

hearing” to determine whether the matter should remain in juvenile court or be 

transferred to adult court. Only if the juvenile court transfers the matter to adult 

court can the juvenile be tried and sentenced as an adult. (See Welf. & Inst. Code, 

§ 707, subd. (a).)2

We must decide whether this part of Proposition 57 applies retroactively to 

benefit defendant. In In re Estrada (1965) 63 Cal.2d 740 (Estrada), we held that a 

statute that reduced the punishment for a crime applied retroactively to any case in 

which the judgment was not final before the statute took effect. In People v. 

Francis (1969) 71 Cal.2d 66 (Francis), we applied Estrada to a statute that merely 

made a reduced punishment possible. Estrada is not directly on point; Proposition 

57 does not reduce the punishment for a crime. But its rationale does apply. The 

possibility of being treated as a juvenile in juvenile court—where rehabilitation is 

the goal—rather than being tried and sentenced as an adult can result in 

dramatically different and more lenient treatment. Therefore, Proposition 57 

reduces the possible punishment for a class of persons, namely juveniles. For this 

reason, Estrada’s inference of retroactivity applies. As nothing in Proposition 

57’s text or ballot materials rebuts this inference, we conclude this part of 

Proposition 57 applies to all juveniles charged directly in adult court whose 

judgment was not final at the time it was enacted.

Because the Court of Appeal reached a similar result, although for different 

reasons, we affirm the judgment.

I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On June 10, 2016, the Riverside County District Attorney filed an 

information in adult court charging defendant with kidnapping for rape, oral 

 

2 All further statutory citations are to the Welfare and Institutions Code 

unless otherwise indicated.
3

copulation, and sodomy; forcible oral copulation with a child under 14 years of 

age; and two counts of forcible sodomy. Defendant has not yet been tried, but the 

charges are based on sex crimes defendant allegedly committed against a girl who 

was seven and eight years old when the crimes occurred.

On November 8, 2016, the electorate passed Proposition 57, and it took 

effect the next day. (Cal. Const., art. II, § 10, subd. (a).) On November 16, 2016, 

defendant requested the matter be transferred to juvenile court for a “fitness 

hearing” pursuant to Proposition 57. After a hearing, on November 29, 2016, the 

trial court granted the motion, holding that Proposition 57 applies retroactively to 

this case. It issued a short stay to permit the People to seek writ review in the 

Court of Appeal.

Three days later, the People filed the instant writ petition in the Court of 

Appeal challenging the trial court’s order and seeking an additional stay. On 

March 13, 2017, the Court of Appeal issued an opinion denying the petition. 

(People v. Superior Court (Lara) (2017) 9 Cal.App.5th 753 (Lara).) It concluded

that Proposition 57 does not apply retroactively under the rationale of Estrada, 

supra, 63 Cal.2d 740. But it also concluded that, applied prospectively, 

Proposition 57 entitles defendant to a fitness hearing.

In the meantime, because the trial court stay expired and the Court of 

Appeal did not issue its own stay, matters continued at the trial court level. The 

trial court suspended proceedings in the adult court and ordered defendant released 

from custody unless the People commenced a juvenile court proceeding within 48 

hours. The next day, the People filed a petition in juvenile court alleging 

defendant committed the crimes already charged in adult court and requesting a 

hearing to transfer the matter back to adult court. The juvenile court held the 

hearing but denied the People’s request to transfer the matter back to adult court. 
4

A contested jurisdictional hearing was scheduled in juvenile court for April 20, 

2017.

The People filed a petition for review and requested a stay. On April 19, 

2017, we stayed all further proceedings in the juvenile and adult courts pending 

further order of this court. Later, we granted the petition for review to decide 

whether Proposition 57’s juvenile law provisions apply retroactively to cases filed

in adult court before it took effect.3

II. DISCUSSION

A. Background

“Historically, a child could be tried in criminal court only after a judicial 

determination, before jeopardy attached, that he or she was unfit to be dealt with 

under juvenile court law. Since 1975 the procedural requirements for fitness 

hearings have been established by section 707.” (Juan G. v Superior Court (2012) 

209 Cal.App.4th 1480, 1488.) The general rule used to be that “any individual 

less than 18 years of age who violates the criminal law comes within the 

jurisdiction of the juvenile court, which may adjudge such an individual a ward of 

the court.” (Manduley v. Superior Court (2002) 27 Cal.4th 537, 548, fn. omitted.)

Amendments to former sections 602 and 707 in 1999 and 2000, some by 

initiative, changed this historical rule. Under the changes, in specified 

circumstances, prosecutors were permitted, and sometimes required, to file 

charges against a juvenile directly in criminal court, where the juvenile would be 

treated as an adult. (Manduley v. Superior Court, supra, 27 Cal.4th at pp. 548-

 

3 The Court of Appeal issued its opinion, which it believed established the 

law of the case, after receiving an informal response but without issuing an order 

to show cause or holding oral argument. (Lara, supra, 9 Cal.App.5th at pp. 757-

773.) The People’s petition for review was limited to the merits and did not raise 

the procedural question. Accordingly, we express no opinion regarding the 

propriety of this procedure.
5

551; Juan G. v. Superior Court, supra, 209 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1488-1490.) These 

provisions were in effect when the prosecution filed the charges against defendant 

directly in criminal court.

Proposition 57 changed the procedure again, and largely returned California 

to the historical rule. “Among other provisions, Proposition 57 amended the 

Welfare and Institutions Code so as to eliminate direct filing by prosecutors. 

Certain categories of minors . . . can still be tried in criminal court, but only after a 

juvenile court judge conducts a transfer hearing to consider various factors such as 

the minor’s maturity, degree of criminal sophistication, prior delinquent history, 

and whether the minor can be rehabilitated. (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 707, subd. 

(a)(1).)” (People v. Vela (2017) 11 Cal.App.5th 68, 72, review granted July 12, 

2017, S242298 (Vela).)4

We must decide whether this requirement of a transfer hearing before a 

juvenile can be tried as an adult applies to defendant even though he had already 

been charged in adult court before Proposition 57 took effect. The question has 

potentially major consequences for juveniles like defendant. While a person 

convicted of serious crimes in adult court can be punished by a long prison 

sentence, juveniles are generally treated quite differently, with rehabilitation as the 

goal.

The Vela court summarized the procedures in the juvenile court system. 

“Generally, any person under the age of 18 who is charged with violating a law is 

considered a ‘minor.’ (See § 602.) A ‘juvenile court’ is a separate, civil division 

 

4 The hearing to determine whether a juvenile may be treated as an adult used 

to be called a “fitness hearing.” (E.g., Manduley v. Superior Court, supra, 27 

Cal.4th at p. 546.) However, the current section 707, subdivision (a)(1), as

amended by Proposition 57, refers to a “motion to transfer” the juvenile to adult 

court. Accordingly, like some of the Courts of Appeal, we will call the hearing 

under the current statute a “transfer hearing.”
6

of the superior court. (§ 246.) A prosecutor charges a minor with an offense by 

filing a juvenile petition, rather than a criminal complaint. (See §§ 653.7, 655.) 

Minors ‘admit’ or ‘deny’ an offense, rather than plead ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty.’ 

(§ 702.3.) There are no ‘trials,’ per se, in juvenile court, rather there is a 

‘jurisdictional hearing’ presided over by a juvenile court judge. (§ 602.) The 

jurisdictional hearing is equivalent to a ‘bench trial’ in a criminal court. (See Cal. 

Rules of Court, rule 5.780.) Although a juvenile court judge adjudicates alleged 

law violations, there are no ‘conviction[s]’ in juvenile court. (§ 203.) Rather, the 

juvenile court determines—under the familiar beyond the reasonable doubt 

standard and under the ordinary rules of evidence—whether the allegations are 

‘true’ and if the minor comes within its jurisdiction. (See § 602 et seq.)

“There is no ‘sentence,’ per se, in juvenile court. Rather, a judge can 

impose a wide variety of rehabilitation alternatives after conducting a 

‘dispositional hearing,’ which is equivalent to a sentencing hearing in a criminal 

court. (§ 725.5; In re Devin J. (1984) 155 Cal.App.3d 1096, 1100 [202 Cal.Rptr. 

543].) In the more serious cases, a juvenile court can ‘commit’ a minor to juvenile 

hall or to the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), formerly known as the California 

Youth Authority (CYA). In order to commit a minor to the DJJ, the record must 

show that less restrictive alternatives would be ineffective or inappropriate. (In re 

Teofilio A. (1989) 210 Cal.App.3d 571, 576 [258 Cal.Rptr. 540].) The DJJ, rather 

than the court, sets a parole consideration date. DJJ commitments can range from 

one year or less for nonserious offenses, and up to seven years for the most serious 

offenses, including murder. (See Cal. Code Regs., tit. 15, §§ 4951-4957.) A 

minor committed to DJJ must generally be discharged no later than 23 years of 

age. (§ 607, subd. (f).)” (Vela, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th at pp. 73-74, rev.gr.)

With this background in mind, we now consider whether defendant 

properly received the benefit of Proposition 57.
7

B. Whether Proposition 57 Applies to Defendant

“The Legislature ordinarily makes laws that will apply to events that will 

occur in the future. Accordingly, there is a presumption that laws apply 

prospectively rather than retroactively. But this presumption against retroactivity 

is a canon of statutory interpretation rather than a constitutional mandate. 

(Evangelatos v. Superior Court (1988) 44 Cal.3d 1188, 1224 [246 Cal.Rptr. 629, 

753 P.2d 585].) Therefore, the Legislature can ordinarily enact laws that apply 

retroactively, either explicitly or by implication. (Tapia v. Superior Court (1991) 

53 Cal.3d 282, 311 [279 Cal.Rptr. 592, 807 P.2d 434] (dis. opn. of Mosk, J.).) In 

order to determine if a law is meant to apply retroactively, the role of a court is to 

determine the intent of the Legislature, or in the case of a ballot measure, the 

intent of the electorate. (People v. Conley (2016) 63 Cal.4th 646, 659 [203 

Cal.Rptr.3d 622, 373 P.3d 435].)” (Vela, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th at pp. 72-73, 

rev.gr.)

In Estrada, supra, 63 Cal.2d 740, we considered statutes that mitigated the 

punishment for the crime of escape without force or violence. The statutes were

enacted after the petitioner committed the offense but before he was sentenced. 

We held that the petitioner was “entitled to the ameliorating benefits” of the new 

statutes. (Id. at p. 744.) “When the Legislature amends a statute so as to lessen 

the punishment it has obviously expressly determined that its former penalty was 

too severe and that a lighter punishment is proper as punishment for the 

commission of the prohibited act. It is an inevitable inference that the Legislature 

must have intended that the new statute imposing the new lighter penalty now 

deemed to be sufficient should apply to every case to which it constitutionally 

could apply. The amendatory act imposing the lighter punishment can be applied 

constitutionally to acts committed before its passage provided the judgment 

convicting the defendant of the act is not final.” (Id. at p. 745.)
8

In Francis, supra, 71 Cal.2d 66, the Legislature modified the punishment 

for possession of marijuana, which had been a straight felony, to permit it to be 

treated as a misdemeanor. Relying on Estrada, supra, 63 Cal.2d 740, we held that 

this statutory change also applied retroactively to persons whose judgments were 

not yet final. “Here, unlike Estrada, the amendment does not revoke one penalty 

and provide for a lesser one but rather vests in the trial court discretion to impose 

either the same penalty as under the former law or a lesser penalty.” (Francis, at 

p. 76.) Despite this difference, we found an inference that the Legislature intended 

retroactive application “because the Legislature has determined that the former 

penalty provisions may have been too severe in some cases and that the sentencing 

judge should be given wider latitude in tailoring the sentence to fit the particular 

circumstances.” (Ibid.)

We recently summarized Estrada’s meaning. “The Estrada rule rests on an 

inference that, in the absence of contrary indications, a legislative body ordinarily 

intends for ameliorative changes to the criminal law to extend as broadly as 

possible, distinguishing only as necessary between sentences that are final and 

sentences that are not.” (People v. Conley, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 657 (Conley); 

see People v. Wright (2006) 40 Cal.4th 81, 94-95 [Estrada’s inference of 

retroactivity applies to a newly enacted defense].)5

Proposition 57’s effect is different from the statutory changes in Estrada, 

supra, 63 Cal.2d 740, and Francis, supra, 71 Cal.2d 66. Proposition 57 did not 

ameliorate the punishment, or possible punishment, for a particular crime; rather, 

 

5 We have occasionally referred to Estrada as reflecting a “presumption.” 

(E.g., People v. Conley, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 656; People v. Brown (2012) 54 

Cal.4th 314, 324.) We meant this to convey that ordinarily it is reasonable to infer 

for purposes of statutory construction the Legislature intended a reduction in 

punishment to apply retroactively.
9

it ameliorated the possible punishment for a class of persons, namely juveniles. 

But the same inference of retroactivity should apply.

In Vela, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th 68, review granted, the defendant was 

charged and tried as an adult for crimes, including murder, committed when he 

was 16 years old. His case was pending on appeal when Proposition 57 was 

enacted. The court concluded that Estrada’s rationale applied, and the defendant 

was entitled to a transfer hearing.

“Here, for a minor accused of a crime, it is a potential ‘ameliorating 

benefit’ to have a neutral judge, rather than a district attorney, determine that he or 

she is unfit for rehabilitation within the juvenile justice system. While a district 

attorney has an obligation to be objective and impartial, the duty of that position is 

also to act as a zealous advocate. (People v. Eubanks (1996) 14 Cal.4th 580, 590

[59 Cal.Rptr.2d 200, 927 P.2d 310].) And the impact of the decision to prosecute 

a minor in criminal court rather than juvenile court can spell the difference 

between a 16-year-old minor such as Vela being sentenced to prison for 72 years 

to life, or a discharge from the DJJ’s custody at a maximum of 23 years of age. 

After the passage of Proposition 57, a juvenile court judge can only make that 

irrevocable decision after receiving a probation report and after conducting a full 

hearing considering the minor’s prior history, the circumstances of the offense, 

and several other factors relating to his or her youth and immaturity. (§ 707, subd. 

(a).)

“Applying the reasoning of Estrada, we find that by its approval of 

Proposition 57, . . . the electorate has ‘expressly determined’ that the former 

system of direct filing was ‘too severe.’ (Estrada, supra, 63 Cal.2d at p. 745.) 

Further, we find an ‘inevitable inference’ that the electorate ‘must have intended’ 

that the potential ‘ameliorating benefits’ of rehabilitation (rather than punishment), 

which now extend to every eligible minor, must now also ‘apply to every case to 
10

which it constitutionally could apply.’ (Estrada, at pp. 744-745.)” (Vela, supra, 

11 Cal.App.5th at pp. 77-78, rev.gr.)

Vela also cited Francis, supra, 71 Cal.2d 66. “Here, the electorate has 

taken away from prosecutors the discretion to directly file cases against minors in 

criminal courts. As a result—similar to the discretion of a judge to reduce a crime 

from a felony to a misdemeanor in some cases—a juvenile court judge can now 

exercise his or her discretion in some cases and determine that a minor should 

remain in the juvenile justice system rather than face prosecution and sentencing 

in the criminal courts. For those minors who remain in the juvenile court, with its 

primary emphasis on rehabilitation rather than punishment, the potential effect of 

that ‘ameliorating benefit’ is analogous to the potential reduction in a criminal 

defendant’s sentence as in Estrada and Francis.” (Vela, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th at 

p. 80, rev.gr.)

We agree with Vela that Estrada’s inference of retroactivity applies here. 

Proposition 57 is an “ameliorative change[] to the criminal law” that we infer the 

legislative body intended “to extend as broadly as possible.” (Conley, supra, 63 

Cal.4th at p. 657.) Nothing in Proposition 57 itself or the ballot materials rebuts

this inference. The parties cite different materials to support the argument that the 

electorate either did or did not intend a retroactive application. They are 

inconclusive. Proposition 57 and the ballot materials are silent on the question. 

But some hints can be gleaned as to electoral intent. One stated purpose of the act 

is to “[s]top the revolving door of crime by emphasizing rehabilitation, especially 

for juveniles.” (Voter Information Guide, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 8, 2016) text of Prop. 

57, p. 141.) Proposition 57 also provides that the “act shall be liberally construed 

to effectuate its purposes.” (Id., p. 146.) These provisions are not alone decisive, 

but they support the conclusion that Estrada’s inference of retroactivity is not 

rebutted.
11

After finding that the defendant was entitled to a transfer hearing, the Vela

court considered the remedy. It began by noting that the “jury’s convictions, as 

well as its true findings as to the sentencing enhancements, will remain in place. 

Nothing is to be gained by having a ‘jurisdictional hearing,’ or effectively a 

second trial, in the juvenile court.” (Vela, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th at p. 81, rev.gr.) 

Noting that an “appellate court ‘may, if proper, remand the cause to the trial court 

for such further proceedings as may be just under the circumstances[]’ (Pen. Code, 

§ 1260),” the court ordered a limited remand. (Id. at p. 81.)

Specifically, the Vela court ordered as follows: “Here, under these

circumstances, Vela’s conviction and sentence are conditionally reversed and we 

order the juvenile court to conduct a juvenile transfer hearing. (§ 707.) When 

conducting the transfer hearing, the juvenile court shall, to the extent possible, 

treat the matter as though the prosecutor had originally filed a juvenile petition in 

juvenile court and had then moved to transfer Vela’s cause to a court of criminal 

jurisdiction. (§ 707, subd. (a)(1).) If, after conducting the juvenile transfer 

hearing, the court determines that it would have transferred Vela to a court of 

criminal jurisdiction because he is ‘not a fit and proper subject to be dealt with 

under the juvenile court law,’ then Vela’s convictions and sentence are to be 

reinstated. (§ 707.1, subd. (a).) On the other hand, if the juvenile court finds that 

it would not have transferred Vela to a court of criminal jurisdiction, then it shall 

treat Vela’s convictions as juvenile adjudications and impose an appropriate 

‘disposition’ within its discretion.” (Vela, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th at p. 82, rev.gr.)

With one exception, other Courts of Appeal, including the Court of Appeal 

in this case, have rejected Estrada’s application, although two, including the Court 

of Appeal in this case, have granted the same relief under the theory that the 

defendant is entitled to a transfer hearing even applying Proposition 57 

prospectively. (People v. Suarez (2017) 17 Cal.App.5th 1272 [holding, over a 
12

dissent, that Estrada does not apply, and the defendant is not entitled to a transfer 

hearing]; People v. Brewer (2017) 17 Cal.App.5th 471 [holding, over a dissent, 

that Estrada does not apply, and the defendant is not entitled to a transfer hearing]; 

People v. Navarra (2017) 16 Cal.App.5th 173 [holding that Estrada does not 

apply, and the defendant is not entitled to a transfer hearing], review granted

January 24, 2018, S245513; People v. Superior Court (Walker) (2017) 12 

Cal.App.5th 687 [holding that Estrada does not apply, and the defendant is not 

entitled to a transfer hearing], review granted September 13, 2017, S243072; 

People v. Marquez (2017) 11 Cal.App.5th 816 [holding that Estrada does not 

apply, and the defendant is not entitled to a transfer hearing], review granted July 

26, 2017, S242660; People v. Mendoza (2017) 10 Cal.App.5th 327 [holding that 

Estrada does not apply, and the defendant is not entitled to a transfer hearing], 

review granted July 12, 2017, S241647; People v. Cervantes (2017) 9 Cal.App.5th

569 [holding that Estrada does not apply but, applying Proposition 57 

prospectively, the defendant is entitled to a transfer hearing], review granted May 

17, 2017, S241323.) The exception is People v. Pineda (2017) 14 Cal.App.5th

469, review granted December 13, 2017, S244451, which, over a dissent, agreed 

with Vela, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th 68, review granted.

The courts finding Estrada inapplicable generally believed that a recent 

decision from this court precluded them from concluding otherwise. (People v. 

Brown, supra, 54 Cal.4th 314 (Brown).) In Brown, we refused to give retroactive 

effect to a statute that temporarily increased the rate at which prisoners in local 

custody could earn conduct credits against their sentences for good behavior. As 

we explained, “[c]onduct credits encourage prisoners to conform to prison 

regulations, to refrain from criminal and assaultive conduct, and to participate in 

work and other rehabilitative activities.” (Id. at p. 317.) We rejected the argument 

that, under Estrada, the temporary increase in the ability to earn conduct credits 
13

applied retroactively. We explained that the statutory change did “not alter the 

penalty for any crime; a prisoner who earns no conduct credits serves the full 

sentence originally imposed. Instead of addressing punishment for past criminal 

conduct, the statute addresses future conduct in a custodial setting by providing 

increased incentives for good behavior.” (Id. at p. 325.)

We agree with the Vela court’s distinction of Brown, supra, 54 Cal.4th 314. 

“But under Proposition 57, a transfer hearing conducted by a juvenile court judge 

does not address future conduct or provide incentives for good behavior as in 

Brown. Rather, the potential benefit of a juvenile transfer hearing is that it may, in 

fact, dramatically alter a minor’s effective sentence or ‘juvenile disposition’ for 

past criminal conduct. Thus, just as the Supreme Court reasoned in Estrada and 

Francis, we infer that the electorate intended the possible ameliorating benefits of 

Proposition 57 to apply to every minor to whom it may constitutionally apply, 

including Vela.” (Vela, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th at p. 81, rev.gr.)

In language the People and some of the Courts of Appeal cite, we “note[d] 

the limited role Estrada properly plays in our jurisprudence of prospective versus 

retrospective operation.” (Brown, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 324.) We said that 

“Estrada is today properly understood, not as weakening or modifying the default 

rule of prospective operation codified in [Penal Code] section 3, but rather as 

informing the rule’s application in a specific context by articulating the reasonable 

presumption that a legislative act mitigating the punishment for a particular 

criminal offense is intended to apply to all nonfinal judgments.” (Ibid.) However, 

we did not mean to state, and could not have held as binding precedent, that under 

no other circumstances, no matter how similar to Estrada, and how different from 

Brown, could Estrada’s inference in favor of retroactivity apply.

Indeed, in Brown itself, we went on to explain that the statute at issue—

involving credits for future behavior—is not “analogous” to the Estrada situation, 
14

and Estrada’s “logic” does not apply. (Brown, supra, 54 Cal.4th at p. 325.) Here, 

however, the provisions of Proposition 57 at issue are analogous to the Estrada

situation, and Estrada’s logic does apply. Brown presents no impediment to 

invoking Estrada’s inference in this case.

The People also cite Conley, supra, 63 Cal.4th 646. In that case, we 

considered the “Three Strikes Reform Act of 2012 (Reform Act or Act) (Prop. 36, 

as approved by voters, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 6, 2012)), which amended the law to 

reduce the punishment prescribed for certain third strike defendants.” (Id. at p. 

651.) We found Estrada’s inference of retroactivity inapplicable. But that was 

because the legislation contained its own retroactivity provision. It permitted 

persons sentenced under the Three Strikes law, including those whose judgments 

were final, to seek resentencing and a reduced sentence, but subject to certain 

conditions. (Id. at pp. 651-652, citing Pen. Code, § 1170.126.) Accordingly, we 

held that persons already sentenced, including those whose judgments were not 

final, were not “entitled to automatic resentencing” without regard to the 

conditions. (Id. at pp. 655-656.)

We explained that “the Legislature (or here, the electorate) may choose to 

modify, limit, or entirely forbid the retroactive application of ameliorative criminal 

law amendments if it so chooses.” (Conley, supra, 63 Cal.4th at p. 656.) Estrada

“does not govern when the statute at issue includes a ‘saving clause’ providing 

that the amendment should be applied only prospectively.” (Conley, at p. 656.) 

“[U]nlike the statute at issue in Estrada, supra, 63 Cal.2d 740, the Reform Act is 

not silent on the question of retroactivity. Rather, the Act expressly addresses the 

question in [Penal Code] section 1170.126, the sole purpose of which is to extend 

the benefits of the Act retroactively.” (Id. at p. 657.) “[T]he voters adopted a 

different approach [than that in Estrada]. They took the extraordinary step of 

extending the retroactive benefits of the Act beyond the bounds contemplated by 
15

Estrada—including even prisoners serving final sentences within the Act’s 

ameliorative reach—but subject to a special procedural mechanism for the recall 

of sentences already imposed.” (Id. at pp. 657-658.) In short, because the 

legislation contained its own retroactivity provision, we did not apply Estrada’s 

different kind of retroactivity. In this respect, Proposition 57 is like the legislation 

in Estrada, not Conley.

One Court of Appeal cited the complexity inherent in providing a transfer 

hearing to juveniles whose cases are already pending in adult court as another 

reason to deny such a hearing. (People v. Superior Court (Walker), supra, 12 

Cal.App.5th at pp. 704-705 & fn. 20, rev.gr.) The People echo that argument in 

this case. As examples of the complexity, the Walker court cited the remedy

provided in Vela, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th 68, review granted, which we have 

discussed, and in People v. Cervantes, supra, 9 Cal.App.5th at page 621, review 

granted, which was similar to the Vela remedy as adapted to the precise situation.

We agree the appropriate remedy can be somewhat complex. But 

complexity is inherent when juveniles are to be treated as adults. The procedure 

Proposition 57 imposes—filing the matter first in juvenile court, requesting and 

conducting a transfer hearing, then transferring the matter to adult court—is far 

more complex than the procedure for adults—simply filing the case in adult court. 

Moreover, the remedy that Penal Code section 1170.17 provides for juveniles 

charged directly in adult court but convicted only of some lesser charge—

discussed in the next paragraph—is rather complex. But we believe remedies like 

those provided in Vela and Cervantes are readily understandable, and the courts 

involved can implement them without undue difficulty. The potential complexity 

in providing juveniles charged directly in adult court with a transfer hearing is no 

reason to deny the hearing.
16

Amicus curiae San Diego County District Attorney cites Penal Code 

section 1170.17, which Proposition 57 left unaffected, to support its argument that 

the proposition does not apply retroactively. Section 1170.17 provided protection 

to juveniles who were properly charged directly in adult court but then convicted 

only of a charge or charges that would not permit or require such direct filing, or 

possibly not permit treatment as an adult at all. Generally, when that happens, 

section 1170.17 requires the trial court either to have the juvenile treated as a 

juvenile (if the conviction is for a crime that does not permit treatment as an adult) 

(Pen. Code, § 1170.17, subd. (d); see id., § 1170.19, subd. (b)), or to hold a 

hearing, similar to a fitness hearing, to determine whether the juvenile should 

continue to be treated as an adult (Pen. Code, § 1170.17, subds. (b), (c)). Amicus 

curiae argues that, because today no charge may be filed directly in adult court, 

persons like defendant, who were not convicted before Proposition 57 took effect, 

will always receive the equivalent of a fitness hearing (or automatic treatment as a 

juvenile). By leaving this provision intact, amicus curiae further argues, the voters 

intended not to apply Proposition 57 retroactively.

We need not decide how Penal Code section 1170.17 might apply postProposition 57, for its continuing existence does not overcome the inference of 

retroactivity. That section was drafted for a different procedural posture than 

Proposition 57 and is a poor fit both textually and practically for a Proposition 57 

remedy. Textually, subdivision (c) of section 1170.17 applies to juveniles whose 

convictions and age make them subject to a “rebuttable presumption” of juvenilecourt fitness. But as amended by Proposition 57, Welfare and Institutions Code 

section 707 no longer establishes any such rebuttable presumption of fitness, thus 

suggesting the voters did not intend hearings under Penal Code section 1170.17 to 

replace Proposition 57 transfer hearings. Moreover, as a practical matter, 

postponing juvenile court proceedings until after the juvenile has been convicted 
17

in adult court, as occurs under Penal Code section 1170.17, would entail 

conducting jury trials that will, in some cases, then be obviated by proceedings in 

the juvenile court. That the voters intended to create such a wasteful system is 

unlikely.

Additionally, in two respects, Penal Code section 1170.17 is far less 

favorable to juveniles than Proposition 57. First, under Penal Code section 

1170.17, the juvenile is treated as an adult at least until conviction in adult court 

and, depending on the exact nature of the ultimate conviction, even then would 

continue to be treated as an adult unless and until the court ordered juvenile 

treatment; under Proposition 57, the juvenile is initially treated as a juvenile and 

can be treated as an adult only if and when a court transfers the matter to adult 

court. Second, under amicus curiae’s interpretation of Penal Code section 

1170.17, a juvenile who was convicted before Proposition 57 took effect can never

benefit from that section. Nothing in that section’s continuing existence rebuts 

Estrada’s inference of retroactivity.

For these reasons, we conclude that defendant properly received the benefit 

of Proposition 57.

III. CONCLUSION

The Court of Appeal erred in rejecting the application of Estrada, supra, 63 

Cal.2d 740, but it reached the correct result. Accordingly, we affirm its judgment, 

although not its reasoning, and lift the stay we previously imposed.
18

We also disapprove the Court of Appeal’s opinion in this case (People v. 

Superior Court (Lara), supra, 9 Cal.App.5th 753), and the opinions in People v. 

Suarez, supra, 17 Cal.App.5th 1272; People v. Brewer, supra, 17 Cal.App.5th 

471; People v. Navarra, supra, 16 Cal.App.5th 173, review granted; People v. 

Superior Court (Walker), supra, 12 Cal.App.5th 687, review granted; People v. 

Marquez, supra, 11 Cal.App.5th 816, review granted; People v. Mendoza, supra, 

10 Cal.App.5th 327, review granted; and People v. Cervantes, supra, 9 

Cal.App.5th 569, review granted, to the extent they are inconsistent with this 

opinion.

CHIN, J.

WE CONCUR:

CANTIL-SAKAUYE, C.J.

CORRIGAN, J.

LIU, J.

CUÉLLAR, J.

KRUGER, J.

ROBIE, J.*

________________________________

* Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, assigned by 

the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
See next page for addresses and telephone numbers for counsel who argued in Supreme Court.

Name of Opinion People v. Superior Court (Lara)

__________________________________________________________________________________

Unpublished Opinion

Original Appeal

Original Proceeding

Review Granted XXX 9 Cal.App.5th 753

Rehearing Granted

__________________________________________________________________________________

Opinion No.S241231

Date Filed: February 1, 2018

__________________________________________________________________________________

Court: Superior

County: Riverside

Judge: Richard Todd Fields

__________________________________________________________________________________

Counsel:

Michael A. Hestrin, District Attorney, Elaina Gambera Bentley, Assistant District Attorney, Kelli M. 

Catlett, Ivy B. Fitzpatrick and Donald W. Ostertag, Deputy District Attorneys, for Petitioner.

Summer Stephan, District Attorney (San Diego), Mark A. Amador, Linh Lam and Peter J. Cross, Deputy 

District Attorneys, for San Diego County District Attorney as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner.

No appearance for Respondent.

Steven S. Mitchell; Steven L. Harmon, Public Defender, and Laura Arnold, Deputy Public Defender, for 

Real Party in Interest.

Rourke Frances Stacy, Public Defender (Los Angeles); Richard L. Braucher, Susan Lynn Burrell and David 

John Briggs for Los Angeles County Public Defender and Pacific Juvenile Defender Center as Amici 

Curiae on behalf of Real Party in Interest.
Counsel who argued in Supreme Court (not intended for publication with opinion):

Donald W. Ostertag

Deputy District Attorney

3960 Orange Street

Riverside, CA 92501

(951) 955-0870

Laura Arnold

Deputy Public Defender

4200 Orange Street

Riverside, CA 92501

(951) 304-5600