Court Opinion

ID: 9731283
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 15:41:22.697153+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:26:16.930790
License: Public Domain

KLINE, P. J.
I dissent for the sole reason that in denying the motion to continue the revocation hearing until after the trial on the new charge the trial judge failed to exercise “reasonable discretion,” as required by People v. Jasper (1983) 33 Cal.3d 931, 935 [191 Cal.Rptr. 648, 663 P.2d 206], I simply cannot discern from the record any rational justification for departing from the preferred procedure of deferring revocation proceedings until the related criminal prosecution is completed. (People v. Coleman (1975) 13 Cal.3d 867, 896 [120 Cal.Rptr. 384, 533 P.2d 1024]; People v. Belleci (1979) 24 Cal.3d 879, 888, fn. 7 [157 Cal.Rptr. 503, 598 P.2d 473].)
In support of the motion to continue, defense counsel pointed out that a continuance until after trial (which was set for December 28, 1981, merely 11 days after the hearing on the subject motion) would not prejudice the People, and this assertion was not refuted by the district attorney. Defense *172counsel additionally articulated the reasons that denial of a continuance would prejudice appellant:
“Proceeding with the motion, your Honor, there is I believe, a substantial risk of danger to the system if in this particular case the Court is to deny defense motion to continue the motion to revoke. Specifically, I have available to me witnesses, which I have discovered through my investigation in behalf of Mr. Johnson. If those witnesses and disclosure of the defense theory were compelled in this matter, Mr. Johnson would be compelled to give up his Constitutional rights, including his right to a jury trial and before a jury trial to have proof presented by the People beyond a reasonable doubt. If we were to continue with the motion to revoke at this time, the District Attorney would potentially have the opportunity of understanding the defense theory of this case and have a full opportunity to cross-examine, among others, Mr. Johnson.”1
The trial court offered no explanation for its ruling at the time it denied the continuance but simply declared: “That motion is denied.”
In fairness to the trial judge in this case, it must be noted that at the time he ruled, People v. Jasper, supra, 33 Cal.3d 931, had not been decided, and People v. Sharp (1976) 58 Cal.App.3d 126 [129 Cal.Rptr. 476], which expressly approved the setting of all probation revocation hearings prior to trial “without exercising discretion in each case” (id., at p. 130), was still good law.
In fairness to all trial judges, it also bears noting that though Jasper now requires the exercise of “reasonable discretion” in ruling upon a motion to continue a probation revocation hearing, the Supreme Court did not in its opinion in Jasper nor has it elsewhere provided any guidelines for exercising the discretion now mandated. On the other hand, the phrase “reasonable discretion” is meaningless unless, at a minimum, it requires an articulated *173reason that may be ascertained from the record. In my view, no such reason was provided by the trial court or may independently be found in the record.
Accordingly, I would reverse the judgment.

It is also noteworthy that after the motion was summarily denied and the prosecution had presented its evidence, appellant refused to testify because he feared a felony-murder charge as a result of the victim’s reported death some time after the burglary here in issue. Defense counsel explained the refusal to testify as follows: “The basis of that decision has to do with the revelation of the Court that the District Attorney believes there to be a cause of death being a heart attack and the possibility of extremely severe repurcussions [sic] to Mr. Johnson if an amended charged is added. With that in mind, I cannot proceed with his testimony. And I am making a further decision, your Honor, that additional witness [sic] on the issue of Mr. Tang’s credibility will not be presented at these hearings. With the viewing of the tape of the conditional examination, we would be submitting the matter as to evidence.”