Court Opinion

ID: 2815067
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-07-07 23:07:06.212705+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:39:52.477367
License: Public Domain

Filed 7/7/15 Smith v. Super. Ct. CA4/2

                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
 California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
                                     or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

           IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                   FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                 DIVISION TWO

ROBERT SMITH,

         Petitioner,                                                     E063336

v.                                                                       (Super.Ct.No. ICR15111)

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF                                                    OPINION
RIVERSIDE COUNTY,

         Respondent;

THE PEOPLE,

         Real Party in Interest.

         ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for writ of mandate. James S. Hawkins,

Judge. Petition is granted.

         Robert Smith, Jr., in pro. per., for Petitioner.

         No appearance for Respondent.

         Michael A. Hestrin, District Attorney, Alan D. Tate, Deputy District Attorney, for

Real Party in Interest.

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                                          DISCUSSION

       Trial courts have little discretion to deny a request for post-conviction discovery

under Penal Code section 1054.9. (See Catlin v. Superior Court (2011) 51 Cal. 4th 300.)

As the statute does not provide for representation by counsel (cf. Pen. Code, § 1405,

which does provide for the appointment of counsel when a defendant seeks DNA testing),

courts should not impose unnecessary procedural bars. While it is not entirely clear how

petitioner presented his request to the trial court, we are persuaded that he is entitled to a

point-by-point determination on the merits of his requests.

       We are not persuaded that the statute requires petitioner to first request discovery

from the People, and at this point, given the time which has been expended, it seems

preferable in any event to place the matter before the trial court for a final resolution

rather than to inject additional delay.

       We do not mean that trial courts are obliged to rule on requests that do not meet

the statutory requirements, but we note that petitioner has now established that he cannot

obtain the desired materials from trial counsel. Insofar as he requests materials to which

he would not have been entitled at trial, and which are therefore not covered by Penal

Code section 1054.9, the trial court may of course deny relief.

                                          DISPOSITION

       On April 27, 2015, petitioner filed a motion to seal declaration in support of the

petition for writ of mandate. Petitioner’s request to seal the declaration is granted;

however, the declaration was not significant to this court’s decision.

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       The petition for writ of mandate is granted in part. Let a peremptory writ of

mandate issue, directing the Superior Court of Riverside County to vacate its order

denying petitioner’s request, and to reconsider the request on the merits.

       Petitioner is directed to prepare and have the peremptory writ of mandate issued,

copies served, and the original filed with the clerk of this court, together with proof of

service on all parties.

       In the interest of justice, this order shall be final forthwith.

       NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS

                                                                   RAMIREZ
                                                                                         P. J.
We concur:

HOLLENHORST
                            J.

KING
                            J.

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