Opinion ID: 1159607
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prejudice Inquiry on Remand

Text: Since we have concluded that the trial court erred in failing to require that defendant demonstrate prejudice in connection with his section 1016.5 motion (see ante, 96 Cal.Rptr.2d at pp. 469-475, 999 P.2d at pp. 691-697), we must address defendant's contention that we should affirm the decision of the Court of Appeal because the record before us demonstrates he was, indeed, prejudiced by the trial court's failure to deliver complete section 1016.5 advisements. Defendant asserts he would not in 1992 have pleaded no contest to vehicle theft had the court fully advised him of the plea's potential immigration consequences, including the possibility of his being excluded from admission to the United States. As defendant points out, a deported alien who cannot return loses his job, his friends, his home, and maybe even his children, who must choose between their [parent] and their native country ( Galvan v. Press (1954) 347 U.S. 522, 533, 74 S.Ct. 737, 98 L.Ed. 911 (dis. opn. of Black, J.)). Petitioner maintains the record does not demonstrate defendant was prejudiced, because defendant may have had actual knowledge of the relevant immigration consequences when, in 1992, he entered the plea at issue. To that extent, petitioner argues, defendant cannot now claim he would have impleaded differently if he had been advised differently. As previously discussed, the trial court, in ruling on defendant's 1016.5 motion, did not consider evidence relating to the state of defendant's knowledge at the time he entered his plea. Petitioner asserts there was a very strong prosecution case on the vehicle-taking and receiving stolen property charges and notes defendant received a sentence of probation and eight months in jail. According to petitioner, on such facts it seems virtually assured that defendant would have pleaded no contest even if he had been properly advised. Whether defendant was prejudiced by the trial court's incomplete advisements is a factual question, appropriate for decision by the trial court in the first instance. (See Gel-Tech Communications, Inc. v. Los Angeles Cellular Telephone Co. (1999) 20 Cal.4th 163, 190, fn. 13, 83 Cal.Rptr.2d 548, 973 P.2d 527; Adoption of Kelsey S. (1992) 1 Cal.4th 816, 850, 4 Cal.Rptr.2d 615, 823 P.2d 1216.) In making that determination, the trial court should be guided by this opinion and our previous pronouncements. For prejudice from the erroneous application of a state procedural requirement, the test generally applicable may be stated as follows: That ... the court, `after an examination of the entire cause, including the evidence,' is of the `opinion' that it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error. ( People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal.2d 818, 836, 299 P.2d 243.) Thus, when the only error is a failure to advise of the consequences of the plea ... the sentencing court must determine whether the error prejudiced the defendant, i.e., whether it is 'reasonably probable' the defendant would not have pleaded guilty if properly advised. ( People v. Walker, supra, 54 Cal.3d at p. 1023, 1 Cal.Rptr.2d 902, 819 P.2d 861; see generally People v. Superior Court (Giron) (1974) 11 Cal.3d 793, 114 Cal.Rptr. 596, 523 P.2d 636.) It follows from the foregoing that the Court of Appeal should not have denied petitioner's application for writ relief on the ground that the trial court was not required to determine whether defendant had suffered prejudice in ruling on his section 1016.5 motion. In ruling summarily, however, the Court of Appeal did not reveal the grounds of its denial. Accordingly, we shall remand the cause in order that the Court of Appeal may consider any alternative grounds timely raised by defendant, such as whether the trial court's order may have been appealable. (Pen. Code, § 1238, subd. (a)(5); People v. Thompson (1970) 10 Cal.App.3d 129, 135, 88 Cal.Rptr. 753; see fn. 6, ante. )