Magee v. Superior Court

34 Cal. App. 3d 201, 109 Cal. Rptr. 758, 1973 Cal. App. LEXIS 795
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedSeptember 11, 1973
DocketCiv. 33407
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 34 Cal. App. 3d 201 (Magee v. Superior Court) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Magee v. Superior Court, 34 Cal. App. 3d 201, 109 Cal. Rptr. 758, 1973 Cal. App. LEXIS 795 (Cal. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

Opinion

BRAY, J. *

Petitioner for writ of mandate and/or prohibition.

Petitioner Ruchell Magee is presently charged by indictment with violations of Penal Code sections 209 (kidnaping) and 187 (murder). The indictment was originally returned by the Marin County Grand Jury and filed in the superior court for that county. Petitioner moved the court for a change of venue, pursuant to Penal Code section 1033, upon the ground that a fair and impartial trial could not be had in Marin County. The court granted his motion and ordered the place of trial changed to the City and County of San Francisco.

Petitioner’s subsequent trial in the San Francisco Superior Court terminated when the court declared a mistrial by reason of the jury’s inability to agree upon a verdict. The court then set a new jury trial, to commence on May 29, 1973. On that date retrial was set for June 29, 1973.

On several pertinent occasions during the proceedings which occurred prior to the mistrial, the respective superior courts had made orders to the *208 various effects that petitioner was incompetent to represent himself or to make a knowing, intelligent and understanding waiver of his right to counsel; that he was incompetent to participate actively in his defense, and was not (and would not be) permitted to do so; and that he was to address the trial court only through court-appointed counsel (Mr. Robert D. Car-row, who represented petitioner at his jury trial in San Francisco, and who appears as his counsel in the present proceeding). 1

These orders were in full force and effect when the San Francisco Superior Court set the cause for a second jury trial to commence on May 29, 1973. Notwithstanding this fact, petitioner personally (i.e., in propria persona) filed a written motion with that court on May 2, 1973, seeking a change of venue from San Francisco. The San Francisco Superior Court granted his motion, made in open court on May 11, and, by formal order entered on May 15, transferred the cause to the Santa Clara Superior Court (respondent in the present proceeding). 2

After the cause had been transferred as ordered, and acting through counsel, petitioner moved respondent court for, among other things, (1) an order reinstating his “pro per or co-counsel” status (see fn. 1, ante), (2) an order returning the cause to the San Francisco Superior Court for an evidentiary hearing on the issue of proper venue or, in the alternative, (3) an order vacating the San Francisco Superior Court’s order changing the venue to Santa Clara County, (4) leave to change petitioner’s plea to count 1 of the indictment (violation of Pen. Code, § 209) by adding pleas thereto of (a) former judgment of acquittal of the offense charged and (b) once in jeopardy, (5) an evidentiary hearing on the propriety of the proposed additional pleas, (6) an order dismissing count 1 of the indictment *209 on statutory (Pen. Code, § 995) and constitutional grounds or, in the alternative, (7) an in limine order restraining real party in interest (the People) from utilizing, at petitioner’s forthcoming trial, an unconstitutional construction of Penal Code sections 209 and 518 as argued by the People at the earlier trial, (8) an order dismissing the indictment on statutory and constitutional grounds relating to petitioner’s right to a speedy trial, and (9) dismissing the indictment pursuant to Penal Code section 1385.

Respondent court denied all of the just-mentioned motions. Petitioner (again acting through court-appointed counsel) has filed in this court a petition for writ of mandate and/or prohibition in which he seeks substantially the same relief denied him upon his motions in respondent court. We issued an alternative writ which was limited in application to the specifications set forth above as (3) and (4); we have not acted upon the other specifications mentioned, which also remain before us for disposition. We hereinafter deal with all of petitioner’s specifications in sequence.

(1) Petitioner is not entitled to the “pro per co-counsel” status sought

The trial court properly denied petitioner the relief sought in this regard. “[T]he decision whether the defendant is capable of making a knowing and intelligent election [to waive counsel and represent himself] is a discretionary matter, which, absent a showing of abuse, will not be disturbed on appeal.” (People v. Floyd (1970) 1 Cal.3d 694, 702-703 [83 Cal.Rptr. 608, 464 P.2d 64].) In People v. Shroyer (1962) 203 Cal.App.2d 478, at page 482 [21 Cal.Rptr. 460], the court said: “Every defendant in a criminal case has the constitutional right to counsel and also to represent himself if he so elects. [Citations.] However, before he may be permitted to represent himself, the trial court is duty bound to determine whether he is making a competent, intelligent and complete waiver of his constitutionally guaranteed right to be represented by counsel. [Citations.] This obligation has been described as a ‘serious and weighty responsibility’ [citation]; its discharge requires ‘a consideration of the nature of the charge, the facts and circumstances of the case, and the education, experience, mental competence and conduct of the accused’ [citations] . . . .”

In denying petitioner’s motions for “pro per or co-counsel” status, the trial judge wrote a detailed memorandum decision which shows that he conscientiously and thoroughly gave consideration to the fact that petitioner had a constitutional right to represent himself unless, under the guidelines set forth in People v. Shroyer, supra, People v. Floyd, supra, and People v. Sharp (1972) 7 Cal.3d 448 [103 Cal.Rptr. 233, 499 P.2d 489], petitioner showed himself to be incompetent to properly defend himself against the serious charges set forth in the indictment. Before denying *210 petitioner’s motion or motions in this regard, the judge had had ample opportunity to observe the person and demeanor of petitioner and the benefit of an extensive record with regard to both; had permitted him to argue orally; had put personal inquiry to him concerning procedural and evidentiary matters; had observed various pleadings and motions filed by him (which were numerous and extensive); and had read “long excerpts of the very voluminous record of the case.”

The judge also considered the gravity of the charges against petitioner, the complexity of the factual and legal issues presented; the facts that the trial was likely to be protracted, and to require more ability than is ordinarily demanded of counsel in a criminal defense; the possible pleas available to petitioner, the elements thereof and the penalties involved; and the probability, or the lack thereof, of petitioner’s receiving a fair trial if he were to represent himself or to act as cocounsel.

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Bluebook (online)
34 Cal. App. 3d 201, 109 Cal. Rptr. 758, 1973 Cal. App. LEXIS 795, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/magee-v-superior-court-calctapp-1973.