Court Opinion

ID: 9632520
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 11:17:56.920496+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:07:07.222078
License: Public Domain

MOSK, J.—I dissent.
In the total scheme of things, I suppose no significant damage to the pattern of the law is inflicted by sending this matter back to the trial court for a precise recitation of a finding that this burglary was a felony or a misdemeanor. I suggest, however, that my colleagues are exalting form over substance by their order.
The petition charged this juvenile with two offenses: trespass, a misdemeanor, in count I, and burglary of a residence, a felony, in count n. After a thoughtful discussion of the evidence and a review of the testimony of the witnesses, the trial judge found “beyond a reasonable doubt that the allegations in count two, the amendment to the petition, is true.”
That the foregoing finding was intended to, and did, embrace the nature of the offense, i.e., that it was a felony, is corroborated by the colloquy at the time of disposition. At the time of sentencing it was noted that “The finding was as to felony burglary, and there is a finding of 777(a) petition.” (Italics added.) *622The minor’s counsel raised no objection to that designation, nor did he request reduction to a misdemeanor; his only concern was with placement of the minor.
I deem it a redundant exercise, in the face of this record, to send the matter back to the trial judge merely to require him to recite again, this time by incantation in the words of the statute, a conclusion that he has previously reached and substantially related. This is but one more step in a seemingly inexorable process—unfortunate, in my view—of converting juvenile proceedings into formal criminal trials.
I would affirm the order.
Richardson, J., concurred.