Mosby v. Super. Ct.

• Court: California Court of Appeal
• Decided: January 25, 2024
• Docket: E080924
• Status: Published

Opinion

Filed 1/25/24

See concurring opinion.

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

MICHAEL EARL MOSBY III,

Petitioner, E080924

v. (Super.Ct.No. RIF1604905)

THE SUPERIOR COURT OF OPINION RIVERSIDE COUNTY,

Respondent;

THE PEOPLE,

Real Party in Interest.

ORIGINAL PROCEEDINGS; petition for extraordinary writ. Bernard Schwartz,

Judge. Petition granted.

Steven L. Harmon, Public Defender, David J. Macher, Linda Gail Moore,

Deputy Public Defenders; American Civil Liberties Union Capital Punishment Project,

Claudia Van Wyk, Robert Ponce; American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of

Southern California, and Summer Lacey for Petitioner.

1 Complex Appellate Litigation Group, Kirsten M. Ault, Anna-Rose Mathieson;

Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, Caitlin Glass, Asees Bhasin; Fred T.

Korematsu Center for Law and Equality and Robert S. Chang, counsel for Fred T.

Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, Boston University Center for Antiracist

Research; Five additional centers for Race, Inequality, and the Law; and Nine

Individual Professors and Scholars as Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner.

Cooley, Randall R. Lee; Reed Smith, Katelyn Kang; Robby L.R. Saldaña and

Elizabeth Reinhardt, counsel for Dean Chemerinsky and Law Professors and Legal

Scholars as Amici Curiae on behalf of Petitioner.

No appearance for Respondent.

Michael A. Hestrin, District Attorney, W. Matthew Murray and Kristen Allison,

Deputy District Attorneys for Real Party in Interest.

Petitioner Michael Earl Mosby III (Petitioner) was charged by the Riverside

County District Attorney’s Office (the District Attorney) with the drive-by shooting of

Darryl King-Divens along with a gun enhancement that he discharged a firearm causing

great bodily injury or death; and three special circumstances, including having

committed multiple murders. Subsequent to Petitioner killing King-Divens, Petitioner

had been convicted in Los Angeles County of two additional murders and attempted

murder. The District Attorney chose to seek the death penalty in Petitioner’s case.

Petitioner filed a “Motion for a Hearing & Relief Pursuant to the Racial Justice

Act” (the Motion) claiming the District Attorney’s decision to seek the death penalty

violated the California Racial Justice Act of 2020 (CRJA) (Assem. Bill No. 2542 (2019-

2 2020 Reg. Sess.), Stats. 2020, ch. 317, § 1), which added section 745 to the Penal

Code.1 Section 745 was enacted to prohibit the state from seeking or obtaining a

criminal conviction on the basis of race. This included that a defendant could not be

charged with a more serious offense than defendants of other races who have engaged in

similar conduct and were similarly situated. (§ 745, subd. (a)(3).) The trial court

denied the first motion without prejudice. Petitioner filed a second motion providing

additional evidence and argument. While a decision was pending, the CRJA was

amended by the Racial Justice for All Act of 2022 (Amended CRJA) (Assem. Bill No.

256 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.) (Assem. Bill 256), Stats. 2022, ch. 739, § 2). The trial

court ruled that Petitioner had failed to make a prima facie showing of a violation as

required under section 745, subdivision (c), and denied an evidentiary hearing.

The trial court denied Petitioner’s motions finding that to make a prima facie

case of racial discrimination under the CRJA and Amended CRJA, Petitioner must

satisfy the following two-prong test: (1) that Petitioner personally was being charged

more harshly than similarly situated defendants of other races or ethnicities; and

(2) statistical evidence shows a historic pattern of racial inequality in Riverside

County’s capital charging practice. The trial court found that Petitioner had satisfied the

second prong, but statistics alone were not enough to establish the first prong, and

therefore, he failed to establish a prima facie case entitling Petitioner to an evidentiary

hearing under the CRJA and the Amended CRJA.

1 All further statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise indicated.

3 Petitioner petitions this court for a writ of mandate directing the superior court to

(1) vacate its order denying Petitioner’s request for a hearing on his CRJA claim, and

(2) enter a new order granting an evidentiary hearing. Amici curiae briefs were

submitted in support of Petitioner by (a) the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and

Equity and several other centers for race, inequality, and the law; and (b) Dean Erwin

Chemerinsky and 10 law professors and legal scholars. They contend this court should

determine that in order to establish a prima facie case entitling Petitioner to an

evidentiary hearing in the trial court, a defendant need only show statistical and

aggregate evidence under the CRJA and the Amended CRJA.

We agree in part with the trial court that based on the plain language of section

745, Petitioner was required to present not only statistical evidence of racial disparity in

the charging of the death penalty by the District Attorney but also evidence of

nonminority defendants who were engaged in similar conduct and were similarly

situated but charged with lesser offenses, to establish a prima facie case. The plain

language of section 745, subdivision (a)(3), requires evidence of similar conduct and

similarly situated defendants, and the legislative history sheds no light on what is

required to establish a prima facie case. There is nothing in the statute or the legislative

history that provides guidance as to what evidence must be presented to determine

similar conduct in order to establish a prima facie case.

However, as we explain post, based on the evidence presented in this case, which

included (1) factual examples of nonminority defendants who committed murder but

were not charged with the death penalty in cases involving similar conduct and who

4 were similarly situated, e.g. had prior records or committed multiple murders, and

(2) statistical evidence that there was a history of racial disparity in charging the death

penalty by the District Attorney, met his burden of establishing a prima facie case under

section 745, subdivision (a)(3). We need not determine based on the evidence presented

whether only statistical evidence of similar conduct and similarly situated defendants

would be sufficient to support a prima facie case. As such, the trial court should have

ordered an evidentiary hearing at which the District Attorney could produce evidence of

the relevant factors that were used to determine the charges against the nonminority

defendants who were involved in similar conduct, and who were similarly situated to

Petitioner; and to provide any race-neutral reasons that it considered in deciding to

charge Petitioner with the death penalty in this case. We grant the writ petition and

direct the trial court to conduct an evidentiary hearing.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

A. FACTS, CHARGES AND PRIOR CONVICTIONS

The parties presented the following facts in the Petition and return: On April 8,

2014, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Darryl King-Divens was riding his bicycle on

Hemlock Avenue in Riverside. Petitioner drove by King-Divens, shot at him three

times, and then drove away. King-Divens was declared deceased at the scene.

The District Attorney contended the following facts in the return as to the Los

Angeles murders and attempted murder: Prior to being apprehended, Petitioner was

involved in killing two other persons and attempting to kill one person in Los Angeles.

On April 17, 2014, at approximately 11:30 p.m., Pedro Rodriguez was shot by

5 Petitioner over a dispute regarding a friend of Petitioner’s. On April 23, 2014,

Petitioner killed victim Quezada2 by shooting him from Petitioner’s vehicle while

Quezada ran down the street. On April 1, 2014, Petitioner attempted to kill Leon

Merritt by shooting him while he was seated in his vehicle. Merritt was shot in the arm

and leg, but he survived. Petitioner was convicted of both murders and the attempted

murder on January 24, 2017.3

Petitioner was charged by the District Attorney in a first amended information

with murder (Pen. Code, § 187) with the special allegation that he personally and

intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury or death (§ 12022.53,

subd. (d)). In addition, he was charged with the special circumstances that he

discharged a firearm from a motor vehicle at another person outside the vehicle

(§ 190.2, subd. (a)(21)), and two allegations that he had two previous convictions of

murder in the first or second degree (§ 190.2, subd. (a)(2)). On March 15, 2019, the

District Attorney provided notice to Petitioner that it intended “after review of all facts

and circumstances underlying the charges” to seek the death penalty in the case.

B. FIRST MOTION FOR RELIEF UNDER CRJA

Petitioner filed the Motion on July 26, 2022, seeking an evidentiary hearing

pursuant to the CRJA. Petitioner contended that denial of the Motion would violate

Petitioner’s rights guaranteed by section 745, his right to equal protection of the law,

2 The first name of victim Quezada is not found in the record.

3 Although Petitioner admits the convictions, he denies the facts of the cases.

6 and cause a miscarriage of justice. Petitioner provided an extensive history of racism in

California. Petitioner provided statistics regarding the charging of African-American

defendants in Riverside County from January 2016 through December 2021,4 which

were analyzed by Marisa Omori, Ph.D., a statistics professor. Petitioner argued this

evidence, along with Omori’s analysis, showed that African-American defendants

received the harshest punishment of any racial or ethnic group in Riverside County.

African-American defendants are charged with special circumstances in their murder

cases at a rate of 64.86 per 100,000 of the adult population; Caucasians are charged at a

rate of 5.00 per 100,000 of the adult population; and Hispanics are charged at a rate of

16.84 per 100,000 of the adult population. In addition, Riverside County filed a notice

of intent to seek the death penalty against 22 defendants between 2016 through 2021.

Per 100,000 of the adult population, 6.05 involved African-American offenders, 1.45 for

Hispanic offenders, and .29 for Caucasian offenders. Petitioner argued that this

statistical evidence was more than sufficient to make out a prima facie case under the

CRJA. Petitioner contended that African-Americans are charged with more murders,

special circumstances, and notices of intent to seek the death penalty than Caucasian

offenders, which showed a violation of section 745, subdivision (a)(3).

The District Attorney filed a response to the Motion contending that Petitioner

failed to show he was charged more seriously than defendants of other races, ethnicities,

or national origins who are similarly situated. Petitioner had not addressed the various

4 The data was collected by the Riverside County Public Defender’s Office.

7 variables that were considered in charging a defendant. The District Attorney argued

that Petitioner had to compare the facts of cases involving nonminority defendants to

the instant case. It was impossible for the trial court to consider whether Petitioner was

similarly situated based just on the statistics. Petitioner was charged with a drive-by

shooting special circumstance and two prior murder conviction special circumstances.

The cases relied on by Petitioner did not involve this combination of charges.

Additionally, the statistics provided by Petitioner failed to consider the enhancements

charged against him, the aggravating factors and his specific criminal history. Further,

the Omori study was flawed as she conceded no statistically significant difference in

African-American and Caucasian groups based on the small sample size, and included

juvenile cases, which are not eligible for the death penalty.

On September 29, 2022, Petitioner filed a reply to the District Attorney’s

opposition. Petitioner stated that the history of racism provided in the Motion was

relevant to whether he had met his burden of making a prima facie case. Further, the

studies provided by Petitioner were sufficient to support he made a prima facie case; he

had met his similarly situated requirement.

Petitioner filed supplemental evidence in support of the Motion on October 5,

2022. He submitted two further statistical studies performed by Dr. Nick Peterson of

the University of Miami and Dr. Frank Baumgartner of the University of North

Carolina, Chapel Hill. Both addressed the racial disparities in charging, sentencing, and

imposition of the death penalty in Riverside County. Peterson’s study relied on

information on the charging of cases in Riverside County between January 2007 and

8 July 2019. The information included every case in which murder was charged, every

case where a special circumstance was filed, every case in which the District Attorney

sought the death penalty, and every case in which the judge or jury imposed the death

penalty. The list included 800 cases.

Petersen concluded that although only 20 percent of all murder defendants were

African-American, they comprised 26 percent of those charged with special

circumstances, 39 percent of those who received death penalty notices, and 36 percent

of those who received death sentences. In contrast, 25 percent of all murder defendants

were Caucasian, but only 18 percent received special-circumstance charges, 9 percent

received death penalty notices and 4 percent received death sentences. Petersen also

took into account whether legitimate case characteristics or other nonracial factors, such

as prior convictions, could account for the disparity.

Petersen controlled for defendant race/ethnicity and prior criminal history, victim

race/ethnicity, age, and gender, and other characteristics, such as multiple victims, use

of a firearm and crime location. Even taking into account these variables, African-

American defendants were 1.71 times more likely to be charged with a special

circumstance, 9.06 times more likely to receive a death penalty notice, and 14.09 times

more likely to have received a death sentence than Caucasian defendants. This proved

that African-American defendants received special circumstances and death penalty

notices between 2006 and 2019 at significantly higher rates relative to their proportion

of the population. The death penalty was more frequently sought in cases involving

multiple victims and prior felony convictions in all cases. Cases involving non-

9 Caucasian victims were less likely to receive the death penalty than those cases

involving a Caucasian victim.

The study that was prepared by Baumgartner found that since 1972, minority

defendants comprised 66 percent of older defendants sentenced to death in Riverside

County while Caucasian defendants comprised only 25 percent.

Petitioner argued that he had a low burden to make a prima facie showing under

section 745. All of the studies submitted supported that African-American defendants

in Riverside County were more likely to be charged with murder and the death penalty

to be sought than nonminority defendants. Riverside County’s capital system operated

in a racially disparate manner. The trial court should order an evidentiary hearing as

Petitioner had satisfied his burden under section 745, subdivision (c).

Petitioner included as exhibits the studies completed by Petersen and

Baumgartner. In addition, an “Annotated Timeline of Riverside County Racial History”

was included as an exhibit.

Petitioner also filed a supplemental reply in support of the Motion. Petitioner

was relying on the studies from Omori, Baumgartner, and Petersen. Petitioner also

noted that Governor Newsom had signed the Amended CRJA. The changes made

clarified that Petitioner was entitled to an evidentiary hearing. The supplemental

evidence filed by Petitioner on September 28, 2022, established the existence of racial

disparities even taking into account similarly situated cases.

Petitioner also argued that the section 745, subdivision (a)(4)(A), claim—which

involved longer and more severe sentences—was ripe for consideration.

10 Petitioner argued he had a low burden to make a prima facie case of a violation

of section 745, subdivision (a). Omori’s study alone met the prima facie showing. She

looked at 689 cases in Riverside County from January 2016 through January 1, 2022,

for racial disparities. In 246 of those cases, at least one special circumstance was

charged, and in 22 the death penalty was sought. Overall, African-American defendants

were charged with murder and special circumstances more than Caucasian defendants,

relative to their population in Riverside County. As for the death penalty, of the 22

cases, African-American defendants consisted of seven of the defendants and Caucasian

defendants numbered two. This was statistically important based on their relative

population.

Moreover, the Amended CRJA had defined “similarly situated” to mean that

factors that are relevant in charging and sentencing are similar and do not require that

all individuals in the comparison group be identical. Petersen’s analysis included

controls for variables on capital charging and sentencing decisions, such as multiple

victims and prior felony convictions.

The District Attorney filed a response to the supplemental reply filed by

Petitioner after the Amended CRJA had been passed. Based on the changes to the

CRJA, the District Attorney argued it was clear that Petitioner must show, in making

out a prima facie case, more than just statistics. The trial court must look to all of the

relevant factors in charging and sentencing.

The matter was heard on October 28, 2022. Petitioner’s counsel argued that to

show a violation of section 745, a showing of intentional discrimination was

11 unnecessary. Moreover, Petitioner was not required to find identical cases to meet the

similarly situated burden. The evidence presented in the Motion was more than enough

to make out a prima facie case. According to Omori’s study, African-American

defendants were overrepresented in charging and seriousness of the charges in relation

to their representation in a population. Based on Omori’s study, there was such a great

disparity that “there’s more than a mere possibility that similarly situated defendants are

being treated differently.” Moreover, Petersen’s study isolated criminal history, racial

variables, and severity of the case in his analysis.

The trial court inquired, “So you have to look at, certainly, the charges that Mr.

Mosby [is] facing, the facts and circumstances that are alleged in the crime, any prior

records that they may have, and all the other factors that I just discussed [such as victim

characteristics, completion of parole and probation, and facts of the case]. And then

somehow compare that to a nonminority defendant similarly situated with a similar

record and similar facts. . . . [¶] It’s not just a simple matter of looking at statistics.

We’re looking at the individual, the facts in that case.”

Petitioner argued that the above evidence was more properly considered at the

evidentiary hearing. The study by Petersen was sufficient for a prima facie showing.

Petitioner also argued the trial court was required to give the law a liberal interpretation

because it was an ameliorative law. The District Attorney argued that more than

statistics were required to make out a prima facie case. The trial court must look at the

specifics of the cases. The statistics could not capture the decisions made in charging

the death penalty.

12 The trial court first ruled that in order to obtain a hearing, a defendant was

required to show the similarly situated prong; Petitioner must show that he was being

discriminated against as shown by nonminority defendants who are similarly situated

but charged with lesser crimes. The trial court reviewed the wording of section 745.

The trial court found that a prima facie case had not been established. There was

no doubt that the second prong—a historical pattern of racism—had been shown.

However, Petitioner had failed to “offer any evidence to show that any systemic bias

has manifested in they themselves being more harshly charged than similarly situated

defendants of other races.” Petitioner’s “basic failure then is in the failing to give any

reason to think that a defendant of another race who is also alleged to have personally

murdered someone in a drive-by shooting and a criminal history that includes two other

murders would be treated more leniently.”

C. SECOND MOTION FOR RELIEF UNDER CRJA

On December 6, 2022, Petitioner filed his second “Motion for a Hearing &

Relief Pursuant to the Racial Justice Act” (Second Motion). Petitioner sought an

evidentiary hearing and an ultimate ruling barring the death penalty in his case. The

Second Motion incorporated the evidence and arguments previously presented and

provided further evidence. Petitioner argued that he need only show statistical proof in

making a prima facie case and was not required to identify factually similar cases. The

trial court’s creation of a two-prong test contravened both the plain language of section

745 but also the Legislature’s intent. Petitioner argued the only showing that was

required to be made was through statistical and aggregate evidence that African-

13 American defendants who were accused of special-circumstance murder were similarly

situated to Caucasian defendants accused of murder but not charged with a special

circumstance or the death penalty.

Petitioner further argued it would be nearly impossible to find comparable cases

to show a prima facie case. Petitioner again relied on the studies from Omori, Petersen,

and Baumgartner. These studies showed a prima facie case. Petitioner also argued that

he had made a prima facie showing under both subdivisions (a)(3) and (a)(4)(A).

Petitioner concluded that the studies were sufficient. Those studies showed, “As a

group, [Caucasian] people charged with murder, charged with special circumstances,

and subject to death notices are similarly situated to [African-American] people who

face each of those same charges. [Petitioner’s] evidence shows that at each stage,

[African-American] people are more likely to progress to the next stage than similarly

situated [Caucasian] people.”

Petitioner then provided evidence (although he disagreed it was necessary) of

similar cases charged by the District Attorney involving nonminority defendants

between 2016 and 2022. Petitioner recounted the facts of his case. Petitioner then

provided the background of several cases involving Caucasian persons charged with

special-circumstance murder with prior convictions: Ronald Ricks was a Caucasian

man with a previous conviction of murder in Riverside County in 2017. He drove up to

a house and fired multiple shots at persons standing in front of the house, killing one

man. Trial was set for 2023 and the District Attorney did not seek the death penalty.

Ricks had several other prior convictions. Noy Boukes had a prior conviction of murder

14 in 2016. Boukes drove his car to a location in Hemet and shot and killed a fellow

member of a White supremacist group. Boukes was given a sentence of life without the

possibility of parole (LWOP) in 2019. He had several other prior convictions. There

was no meaningful difference between Petitioner and these two Caucasian men but the

Caucasian men received lesser charges.

In addition, Petitioner presented cases in which Caucasian defendants were

charged with the special circumstance of multiple murders: Robert Lars Pape killed and

burned three people. The District Attorney did not seek the death penalty against Pape

and he was serving a LWOP sentence. Jared Bischoff killed a man who was flirting

with his girlfriend and then killed his girlfriend. Bischoff stabbed his girlfriend six

times until she bled to death. Bischoff was scheduled for trial, but the District Attorney

chose not to seek the death penalty. Petitioner also presented evidence of Caucasian

young adult defendants: James Coon, who was 26 years old at the time of his offense,

robbed a clerk at a store at gunpoint and then shot the clerk because he tried to take

Coon’s photograph—the District Attorney did not seek the death penalty against Coon.

Melissa Unger, who was 23 years old at the time, was involved in a gang murder, which

involved the kidnapping and torture of a victim—she pled guilty to voluntary

manslaughter. Owen Skyler Shover was accused of killing his 16-year-old girlfriend

when he was 18 years old and was facing charges but the District Attorney did not seek

the death penalty. Andrew Burke was 25 years old when he stabbed to death his

adopted parents/grandparents and the District Attorney chose not to seek the death

15 penalty. Petitioner was 24 years old when the alleged offense took place but he was

facing the death penalty.

Finally, Petitioner presented the “highly aggravated” murder by a Caucasian

defendant for whom the District Attorney did not seek the death penalty. Maxamillion

Eagle raped and strangled a woman, throwing her body in a trash can. Eagle had a prior

conviction of assault with a deadly weapon. He was sentenced to LWOP.

Based on the foregoing, Petitioner argued that the factual comparisons

illustrating the District Attorney’s decision to seek the death penalty against him meant

that he faced significantly harsher punishment than other similarly situated Caucasian

defendants. Petitioner presented numerous exhibits, which included the studies by

Omori, Baumgartner, and Petersen. Also included was an exhibit outlining facts and

charges in other cases filed in Riverside County including the cases outlined in the

Second Motion. The list was prepared by the Riverside County Public Defenders

Office.

A hearing was held on January 20, 2023. The trial court noted that the CRJA

originally provided that racial bias could be shown by statistical evidence and that a

defendant need not show that he or she was prejudiced. The trial court acknowledged

this language but noted that after that, section 745 was amended to include the similarly

situated language. It was again amended to require similar offenses and similarly

situated defendants in order to show a violation of section 745, subdivision (a)(3). In

the final, approved version, the language included that a defendant must be both

similarly situated and engage in similar conduct as nonminority defendants. The trial

16 court inquired of Petitioner’s counsel, “How else can I read that but the plain language

that it would require a comparison from individuals who commit similar conduct and

have similar offenses that they’re looking at?”

The trial court stated there were several reasons why the District Attorney would

charge the death penalty, including the severity of the case, the criminal history, and

whether the victim’s family wanted the death penalty. Something more than statistical

evidence was required to show similar conduct. Petitioner argued that the case-specific

evidence provided was sufficient to support he made a prima facie showing. The trial

court questioned whether the list took into account the wishes of the victim in seeking

the death penalty. The trial court again reiterated the statistical evidence showed the

racial disparity necessary for the first prong. The matter was continued in order for the

District Attorney to file a response to the Second Motion.

The District Attorney filed an opposition to the Second Motion. It argued the

trial court should not rely on statistics alone as it would incentivize charging Caucasian

defendants with the death penalty. The District Attorney argued that nine defendants

mentioned in the Second Motion were not similarly situated to Petitioner. The District

Attorney then provided reasons why the cases were different from Petitioner’s case:

(1) Burke had a well-documented history of mental illness; (2) Unger’s case should be

reviewed in chambers with just the parties; (3) Pape had to be refiled because of the

strength of the evidence and it was not clear which acts were committed by Pape and

which acts were committed by his codefendant, who was under 18 years of age and

could not be charged with the death penalty; (4) Bischoff’s case involved a romantic

17 relationship and several other participants; (5) Coon had no criminal history, he suffered

from mental health issues, and he only robbed the store for gas money; (6) Shover killed

a man with whom he was involved in committing crimes, his motive was unclear and

the body was never found so it could not be determined how the victim died; (7) Eagle

was involved in a killing with several other transients and there were evidentiary issues;

(8) Boukes killed a fellow gang member over a drug debt and only killed one person;

and (9) Ricks killed his victim in a drive-by shooting based on revenge but had no

criminal history of committing violent crimes or murder. The District Attorney

concluded that Petitioner had failed to provide evidence that he was similarly situated to

a defendant of another race who was charged less seriously than in this case.

Petitioner filed a reply. Petitioner once again argued that he only needed to

present statistical evidence to show that Petitioner was being charged more seriously

than other similarly situated nonminority defendants. Petersen’s study was sufficient

for a prima facie case. Petitioner also encouraged the trial court to look to other anti-

discrimination statutes in California for guidance. This included discrimination in

employment and housing cases. These cases did not require a showing of intent to

discriminate or individual prejudice. Further, Petitioner had provided more than

adequate examples of similarly situated nonminority defendants for whom the District

Attorney chose not to seek the death penalty. Petitioner was entitled to a hearing on the

merits of his case.

The continued hearing on the Second Motion occurred on February 24, 2023.

Petitioner argued that aggregate evidence was sufficient if it took into account the

18 similarly situated requirement. The evidence presented took into account this

requirement. The wishes of the victim’s family and the strength of the evidence were

irrelevant to explain racial differences in charging.

The trial court stated again it was clear that pursuant to section 745, there was a

twofold analysis that needed to take place. First was a statistical showing. “The

[second] is viewing persons who are in a similar situation, having committed similar

conduct, as to whether or not there’s a disparity in their treatment.” Clearly, the first

element had been met by Petitioner. The trial court believed that factors such as the

strength of the case, the victim’s family’s wishes, and the criminal history of Petitioner

were all relevant factors in finding similarly situated defendants.

The trial court found, “It appears sufficiently clear to me that the final language

of the bill was intended to prevent the approach that was suggested by the defense,

which is to simply permit relief based merely on population-wide charging disparities.

Therefore, a statistical analysis by itself is not sufficient.” It further stated that

Petitioner had provided specific evidence to establish that he was being treated more

harshly compared to defendants of other races. “And this is precisely the type of

evidence that I believe is necessary and that the original motions lacked.” However,

Petitioner had still not met his burden. The trial court noted the different factors that

distinguished the proffered cases from Petitioner’s. The trial court found, “So in a

comparison analysis, which the Court needs to do to some degree to look at defendants

that are similarly situated, it appears to the Court that there were explanations given

separate and apart from the pure issue of race which distinguished those cases from the

19 case[] of [Petitioner].” The Second Motion was denied and Petitioner filed this petition

for writ of mandate seeking an order from this court that he had established a prima

facie case of a violation of section 745, subdivision (a), and to order an evidentiary

hearing.

DISCUSSION

Petitioner and amici curiae contend the trial court erred by employing a two-

prong test for making a prima facie case of racial discrimination pursuant to section

745, subdivisions (a)(3) and (a)(4). Petitioner insists the trial court misinterpreted the

plain language, the legislative intent, and policy aims of section 745, subdivisions

(a)(3), and (a)(4). The plain language supports only aggregate and statistical evidence is

required to make a prima facie case.

The District Attorney urges this court to uphold the superior court’s

interpretation of section 745, subdivision (a)(3). The District Attorney insists that

holding as requested by Petitioner, every defendant in Riverside County could file the

same motion, citing the same statistics, and be entitled to an evidentiary hearing. The

District Attorney insists that based on the plain language of the statute, a court in

evaluating a CRJA claim must consider factors relevant in charging and sentencing,

including race-neutral reasons proffered by the prosecution. Further, in looking at the

legislative history, the Legislature included a similarly situated requirement after the

first draft. In the Amended CRJA, the Legislature added a similarly situated definition,

emphasizing the importance of the factors. At a minimum, a defendant must prove

under section 745, subdivision (a)(3), that another defendant who is similarly situated

20 received more lenient treatment because of their race. Relying on statistics alone, the

District Attorney would have an incentive to seek more death penalty sentences on

Caucasian defendants, an inappropriate racial determination.

The parties agree that review in this case is de novo. “We review statutory

interpretation questions de novo.” (Ventura County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association v.

County of Ventura (2021) 61 Cal.App.5th 585, 590.)

A. SECTION 745

The CRJA, effective January 1, 2021, added section 745 to the Penal Code. The

Legislature enacted the CRJA with the express intent “to eliminate racial bias from

California’s criminal justice system” and “to ensure that race plays no role at all in

seeking or obtaining convictions or in sentencing.” (Assem. Bill No. 2542 (2019-2022

Reg. Sess.) §2 (Assem. Bill 2542) (Stats. 2020, ch. 317, § 2, subd. (i), pp. 3707-3708;

see Young v. Superior Court of Solano County (2022) 79 Cal.App.5th 138, 149-150.)

Its goal is “to provide remedies that will eliminate racially discriminatory practices in

the criminal justice system, in addition to intentional discrimination.” (Assem. Bill

2542, § 2 subd. (j).) In 2023 the Governor signed into law the Amended CRJA, which

made several changes to section 745, effective January 1, 2023. Among the changes to

the statute the Amended CRJA included several definitions of terms used and extended

relief to any person whose case was final.

Section 745 was enacted, in part, to address McCleskey v. Kemp (1987) 481 U.S.

279, 295-299, 312, which found that there was “a discrepancy that appears to correlate

with race” in death penalty cases in Georgia, but the court would not intervene without

21 proof of a discriminatory purpose, concluding that we must simply accept these

disparities as “an inevitable part of our criminal justice system.”

A detailed outline of the language of section 745 and the legislative history is

necessary. Section 745, subdivision (a), provides that “[t]he state shall not seek or

obtain a criminal conviction or seek, obtain, or impose a sentence on the basis of race,

ethnicity, or national origin.” (§ 745, subd. (a).) A defendant may establish a violation

of the CRJA in various ways. This case concerns the charging stage of the prosecutorial

process.5 Subdivision (a)(3) of section 745, provides in full, “The defendant was

charged or convicted of a more serious offense than defendants of other races,

ethnicities, or national origins who have engaged in similar conduct and are similarly

situated, and the evidence establishes that the prosecution more frequently sought or

obtained convictions for more serious offenses against people who share the

5 Petitioner and amici curiae also refer to subdivision (a)(4)(A) of section 745. It provides, “A longer or more severe sentence was imposed on the defendant than was imposed on other similarly situated individuals convicted of the same offense, and longer or more severe sentences were more frequently imposed for that offense on people that share the defendant’s race, ethnicity, or national origin than on defendants of other races, ethnicities, or national origins in the county where the sentence was imposed.” (§ 745, subd. (a)(4)(A).) This provision only applies to persons who have been sentenced. This is further evidenced by the remedy for a violation of section 745, subdivision (a). Subdivision (e) of section 745 distinguishes between the remedies prior to judgment and those after the judgment. Petitioner has only been charged in this case. Accordingly, the proper provision entitling Petitioner to relief is section 745, subdivision (a)(3). We further decline to interpret section 745, subdivision (a)(4)(A), for future courts as requested by Petitioner as the issue is not properly before this court.

22 defendant’s race, ethnicity, or national origin in the county where the convictions were

sought or obtained.” (§ 745, subd. (a)(3), italics added.)6

The Legislature defined “similarly situated” in section 745, subdivision (h)(6), as

follows: “ ‘Similarly situated’ means that factors that are relevant in charging and

sentencing are similar and do not require that all individuals in the comparison group

are identical. A defendant’s conviction history may be a relevant factor to the severity

of the charges, convictions, or sentences. If it is a relevant factor and the defense

produces evidence that the conviction history may have been impacted by racial

profiling or historical patterns of racially biased policing, the court shall consider the

evidence.”

Section 745, subdivision (h)(1), provides a definition of “more frequently sought

or obtained” as that term appears in section 745, subdivision (a)(3). It provides, “ ‘More

frequently sought or obtained’ or ‘more frequently imposed’ means that the totality of

the evidence demonstrates a significant difference in seeking or obtaining convictions or

in imposing sentences comparing individuals who have engaged in similar conduct and

are similarly situated, and the prosecution cannot establish race-neutral reasons for the

disparity. The evidence may include statistical evidence, aggregate data, or

nonstatistical evidence. Statistical significance is a factor the court may consider, but is

not necessary to establish a significant difference. In evaluating the totality of the

evidence, the court shall consider whether systemic and institutional racial bias, racial

6 We highlight those terms that are defined in section 745.

23 profiling, and historical patterns of racially biased policing and prosecution may have

contributed to, or caused differences observed in, the data or impacted the availability of

data overall. Race-neutral reasons shall be relevant factors to charges, convictions, and

sentences that are not influenced by implicit, systemic, or institutional bias based on

race, ethnicity, or national origin.”

“If a motion is filed in the trial court and the defendant makes a prima facie

showing of a violation . . . , the trial court shall hold a hearing.” (§ 745, subd. (c).) A

prima facie showing means “that the defendant produces facts that, if true, establish that

there is a substantial likelihood that a violation of subdivision (a) occurred. For

purposes of this section, a ‘substantial likelihood’ requires more than a mere possibility,

but less than a standard of more likely than not.” If an evidentiary hearing is ordered,

“evidence may be presented by either party, including, but not limited to, statistical

evidence, aggregate data, expert testimony, and the sworn testimony of witnesses.”

(§ 745, subd. (c)(1).) “The defendant shall have the burden of proving a violation of

subdivision (a) by a preponderance of the evidence. The defendant does not need to

prove intentional discrimination.” (§ 745, subd. (c)(2).)

B. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

As amended in the Senate on July 1, 2020, the draft of section 745 provided in

subdivision (b)(4), that a violation of section 745 occurred if, “The prosecution sought

or obtained a conviction for an offense for which convictions are more frequently

sought or obtained against people who share the defendant’s race, ethnicity, or national

origin than for defendants of other races, ethnicities, or national origins in the county

24 where the convictions were sought or obtained.” (Sen. Amend. to Assem. Bill 2542

(2019-2020 Reg. Sess.) Aug. 1, 2020.) There was no requirement that a prima facie

showing must be made prior to the holding of a hearing. There were not similarly

situated or similar conduct requirements as appears in the current section 745,

subdivision (a)(3).

On August 1, 2020, Assem. Bill 2542 was further amended to add a prima facie

requirement. The proposed section 745, subdivision (a)(4), provision was amended to

read, “The defendant was charged or convicted of a more serious offense than

defendants of other races, ethnicities, or national origins who commit similar offenses

and the evidence establishes that the prosecution more frequently sought or obtained

convictions for more serious offenses against people who share the defendant’s race,

ethnicity, or national origin in the county where the convictions were sought or

obtained.” A definition of “prima facie” was included. (Sen. Amend. to Assem. Bill

2542 (2019-2020 Reg. Sess.) Aug. 1, 2020, italics added.)

A Senate Committee on Public Safety history of the August 1, 2020 version,

referred to McCleskey. In addition, it provided, “This bill allows racial bias to be shown

by, among other things, statistical evidence that convictions for an offense were more

frequently sought or obtained against people who share the defendant’s race, ethnicity

or national origin in the county where the convictions were sought or obtained; . . . This

bill does not require the discrimination to have been purposeful or to have had

prejudicial impact on the defendant’s case.” (Sen. Com. on Public Safety, Analysis of

Assem. Bill 2542 (2019-2020 Reg. Sess.) Aug. 5, 2020.)

25 Further amendments were proposed on August 20, 2020. Proposed section 745,

subdivision (d)(4), now provided, “The defendant was charged or convicted of a more

serious offense than defendants of other races, ethnicities, or national origins who

commit similar offenses and are similarly situated, and the evidence establishes that the

prosecution more frequently sought or obtained convictions for more serious offenses

against people who share the defendant’s race, ethnicity, or national origin in the county

where the convictions were sought or obtained.” The definition of “prima facie

showing” was amended. (Sen. Amend. to Assem. Bill 2542 (2019-2020 Reg. Sess.)

Aug. 20, 2020, italics added.) Nothing in the legislative history provides the reason for

the addition of the similarly situated language or its impact on the prima facie showing.

Assembly Bill No. 256 was introduced to amend section 745 on January 14,

2021. It initially just sought to expand relief to those whose cases were final prior to

2021. (Assem. Bill 256, Introduction of Bill.) The Senate amendment to Assem. Bill

256 provided the following language: “Under existing law, a conviction or sentence is

unlawfully imposed on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin if the defendant

proves, among other things, that the defendant was charged or convicted of a more

serious offense than defendants of other races, ethnicities, or national origins, or

received a longer or more severe sentence, and the evidence establishes that the

prosecution more frequently sought or obtained convictions for more serious offenses

against people who share the defendant’s race, ethnicity, or national origin, as specified,

or if a longer or more severe sentence was more frequently imposed on defendants of a

particular race, ethnicity, or national origin, as specified. Existing law requires this

26 determination to be made pursuant to statistical evidence or aggregate data, as specified.

This bill would allow that evidence to include nonstatistical evidence and would require

the court to consider the totality of the evidence in determining whether a significant

difference in seeking or obtaining convictions or in imposing sentences has been

established.” The current provision of section 745, subdivision (a)(3), was proposed

and the further definitions of relevant factors and changes to the definition of “more

frequently obtained” were proposed. (Sen. Amend. to Assem. Bill 256 (2021-2022 Reg.

Sess.) Aug. 11, 2022.)

Further amendments were proposed on August 24, 2022, which included the

current version of section 745, subdivision (a)(3), and all of the definitions outlined

ante. The “Assembly Floor Analysis” showed that the amendments were intended to

clarify that “more serious charges or longer or more severe sentences were ‘more

frequently sought or obtained’ or ‘more frequently imposed’ is based on the totality of

the evidence, which may include statistical evidence, aggregate data, or nonstatistical

evidence.” (Assem. Floor Analysis, Concurrence in Sen. Amend. to Assem. Bill

No. 256 (2021-2022 Reg. Sess.) Aug. 30, 2022.) There was no further explanation of

the reason for the changes, and how this language impacted the prima facie showing or

the evidentiary hearing phase.

C. ANALYSIS

When interpreting a statute, we look to its words to “ascertain the intent of the

Legislature.” (People v. Overstreet (1986) 42 Cal.3d 891, 895-896.) “When statutory

language is clear and unambiguous, there is no need for construction and courts should

27 not indulge in it.” (Ibid.) “Because statutory language generally provides the most

reliable indicator of that intent [citation], we turn to the words themselves, giving them

their ‘usual and ordinary meanings’ and construing them in context. [Citation.] ‘ “If

there is no ambiguity in the language of the statute, ‘. . . the Legislature is presumed to

have meant what it said, and the plain meaning of the statute governs.’ ” ’ ” (People v.

Lawrence (2000) 24 Cal.4th 219, 230-231.) “If the language of a statutory provision

remains unclear after we consider its terms, structure, and related statutory provisions,

we may take account of extrinsic sources—such as legislative history—to assist us in

discerning the relevant legislative purpose.” (Gund v. County of Trinity (2020) 10

Cal.5th 503, 511.)

1. PRIMA FACIE CASE REQUIREMENTS

Section 745, subdivision (c)(1), makes it clear that at an evidentiary hearing,

evidence may include “statistical evidence, aggregate data, expert testimony and the

sworn testimony of witnesses.” (§ 745, subd. (c)(1).) However, it is not clear what type

of evidence is necessary to prove a prima facie case of a violation of section 745,

subdivision (a)(3). The plain language of section 745, subdivision (a)(3), clearly

provides that in order to show a violation, a defendant must show that he was charged

with a more serious offense than defendants of other races “who have engaged in

similar conduct and are similarly situated,” and “that the prosecution more frequently

sought or obtained convictions for more serious offenses against people who share the

defendant’s race, ethnicity, or national origin in the county where the convictions were

sought or obtained.” As stated, “ ‘More frequently sought or obtained’ ” “means that

28 the totality of the evidence demonstrates a significant difference in seeking . . .

convictions . . . comparing individuals who have engaged in similar conduct and are

similarly situated, and the prosecution cannot establish race-neutral reasons for the

disparity.” Despite these definitions, there is nothing in the plain meaning of the statute

that provides what evidence is necessary to establish a prima facie case of a violation of

section 745, subdivision (a)(3).

The legislative history does not give any insight into the required proof to make a

prima facie showing. In its original proposed form, there was no similarly situated or

similar conduct requirement as appears in section 745, subdivision (a)(3), nor a

requirement that a prima facie showing was required prior to a hearing. However, the

statute evolved to include these requirements and we must give meaning both to these

changes made by the Legislature and the plain meaning of the statute.

Petitioner and amici curiae focus on the “similarly situated” language in section

745, subdivision (a)(3). Petitioner claims that the plain language of section 745,

subdivision (a)(3), permits a defendant to establish a CRJA violation by making one

evidentiary showing based on statistical proof. Petitioner insists that in order to prevail

in showing a prima facie case under the CRJA, a defendant “would have to show—and

could make the showing with statistical or aggregate evidence—that [African-

American] people accused of special-circumstance murder are similarly situated to

[Caucasian] people accused of murder but not charged with a special circumstance.”

Aggregate evidence can be used to show both the greater frequency of punitive

treatment and similar situations of comparators. However, Petitioner does not explain

29 in either the Petition or traverse the importance of the language that Petitioner must

show that he was “engaged in similar conduct” as other nonminority defendants in

addition to showing he was similarly situated.

In the amici brief filed by Dean Erwin Chemerinsky and other law professors,

they also focus on the similarly situated language. They contend Petitioner was not

required to provide exact comparators to establish a prima facie case. They do not

address the “similar conduct” language. The Korematsu Center for Law and Equality

contends that the statistical studies presented by Petitioner were sufficient to establish a

prima facie case. Korematsu argues that the trial court “ignored the legislative

directive” and imposed a nearly insurmountable barrier to making a prima facie

showing of a CRJA violation. They insist that statistical analysis of racial disparities

alone can show more than a “mere possibility” of disparate treatment based on race, and

that statistical analysis is enough without knowing the individual circumstances. The

studies by Omori, Petersen, and Baumgartner were sufficient to show more than a

“mere possibility” of a violation of subdivision (a) of section 745. However, the brief

also does not address the “similar conduct” language.

At oral argument, Petitioner’s counsel did acknowledge that there is a

requirement that the evidence must establish similar conduct. Petitioner’s counsel also

stated that similar conduct could be shown by statistics alone, factual evidence, or a

combination of both types of evidence.

The plain language of the statute supports that as part of the prima facie showing,

a defendant must show that nonminority defendants are engaged in similar conduct.

30 “Conduct” is defined as “a mode or standard of personal behavior especially as based on

moral principles.”7 In criminal cases, Evidence Code sections 1108 and 1109 allow for

the admission of uncharged “conduct” that is similar to the currently charged offense to

prove that the person did, in fact, commit the currently charged acts. This involves the

admission of the facts of the uncharged similar conduct. (See Evid. Code, §§ 1108,

1109; People v. Nguyen (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 1096, 1115-1118.) The Legislature,

prior to using the term “similar conduct,” used the term “similar offenses,” in addition

to the similarly situated language. “Similar offense” language has been used in the

discussion of admission of other crimes to help show motive, intent, premeditation, or

presence of a common design or plan. (See People v. Balcom (1994) 7 Cal.4th 414, 423

[“evidence that defendant committed uncharged similar offenses would have some

relevance regarding defendant’s intent in the present case.”].) “With particular regard to

the determination of relevance, ‘. . . the trial court must look behind the label describing

the kind of similarity or relation between the other offense and the charged offense; it

must examine the precise elements of similarity between the offenses with respect to the

issue for which the evidence is proffered and satisfy itself that each link of the chain of

inference between the former and the latter is reasonably strong.’ ” (People v. Enos

(1973) 34 Cal.App.3d 25, 35.) While it is unclear as to why the Legislature changed the

term “similar offense” to “similar conduct” both traditionally have referred to the

underlying facts of the crimes and not simply the charged crimes. Since the Legislature

7 (Merriam–Webster’s Online Dict. (2023) < http://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary> [as of Jan. 18, 2024] definition noun.)

31 did not provide a definition of “similar conduct,” we rely on the plain meaning, which

refers to “behavior” of a person on a particular occasion that logically refers to the

underlying facts of the crimes rather than just a recitation of the charged crime, and as

the term has traditionally been defined in other criminal cases.

While we may agree with Petitioner that relying on the words “similarly

situated” and the definition in the Amended CRJA, it may be sufficient to look at

similar crimes such as murder, how an African-American person may be charged more

harshly than a nonminority defendant on these cases and that this could be shown by

only statistical evidence. It seems clear to this court that this requires some sort of

review of the underlying facts of the other cases. While there may be a situation in

which statistics could somehow show similar conduct and similarly situated amongst

defendants, in this case, Petitioner presented the underlying facts of several cases in

which the District Attorney did not seek the death penalty for non-minority defendants.

As such, we need not determine if statistics alone could meet the prima facie burden, as

factual evidence here was presented to establish similar conduct.

As stated, the language of section 745 does not clarify what must be shown at the

prima facie stage and what should be decided at the evidentiary hearing. However, it is

clear from the language that to prove a prima facie case of a violation under section 745,

subdivision (a)(3), the evidence must establish that Petitioner was similarly situated and

engaged in similar conduct with other nonminority defendants who were charged with

lesser crimes, and that there was racial disparity in the District Attorney’s capital

charging system. Petitioner’s counsel conceded at oral argument that factual evidence

32 of similar conduct could support a prima facie case. The evidence presented by

Petitioner in the Second Motion of other current cases involving nonminority

defendants was proper evidence of similar conduct. Based on this factual evidence, we

need not determine if mere statistical evidence that compares groups who are engaged

in similar conduct and similar situations may be enough to make a prima facie showing

under section 745.

2. BURDEN OF SHOWING A PRIMA FACIE CASE

The question then remains whether the trial court erred by finding that this

evidence was insufficient to establish a prima facie case by requiring that Petitioner

provide an explanation of other relevant factors in sentencing at the prima facie stage,

such as whether the victim’s family supported seeking the death penalty, to explain the

racial disparity in seeking the death penalty. It is not clear from either the plain

language of the statute or the legislative history at what stage the trial court considers

this evidence and what type of evidence is relevant to showing a prima facie case or

proving a violation at an evidentiary hearing.

Amici curiae argue that placing the burden on the section 745 movant to address

the nondiscriminatory reasons for charging as part of a prima facie case is inconsistent

with existing anti-discrimination law and the process in section 745. Further, the plain

language of the statute places the burden of producing race-neutral reasons on the

prosecution. They further argue that many of the variables cannot be attained by a

defendant at the prima facie stage of litigation. But the briefs provide little assistance in

helping this court determine what must be shown in order to establish a prima facie

33 case. While the briefs argue statistics showing that Petitioner was similarly situated to

nonminority defendants who were charged with less serious crimes is sufficient, as set

forth ante this ignores the plain language of the statute that requires not only a showing

of similarly situated defendants but also those engaged in similar conduct. Further, it

ignores that the definition of similarly situated provides that “factors that are relevant in

charging and sentencing are similar.” (§ 745, subd. (h)(6).)

A recent Court of Appeal case from San Francisco looked to habeas corpus law

to determine the standard for making a prima facie case. In Finley v. Superior Court

(2023) 95 Cal.App.5th 12 (Finley), an African-American defendant brought a motion in

the trial court alleging a violation of the CRJA based on his vehicle being searched

while he was parked in a known high-crime area. He provided evidence that the officer

had no logical nonracial reason for stopping and searching him and provided statistical

evidence that African-American persons in San Francisco are far more likely to be

stopped by police than other groups. (Id. at pp. 17-18.)8 The trial court denied the

motion finding that a prima facie case had not been met. On appeal, the defendant

argued that the trial court improperly weighed the evidence in concluding that he did not

make a prima facie case. (Id. at p. 20.)

On appeal, the court looked to the prima facie standard applicable to a petition

for a writ of habeas corpus, noting that there were no cases interpreting section 745. It

8 The defendant in Finley brought his claim pursuant to section 745, subdivision (a)(1), which provides, “[t]he judge, an attorney in the case, a law enforcement officer involved in the case, an expert witness, or juror exhibited bias or animus towards the defendant because of the defendant's race, ethnicity, or national origin.”

34 noted in the habeas context, “[t]o establish a prima facie showing for habeas relief, a

petitioner ‘should both (i) state fully and with particularity the facts on which relief is

sought [citations] as well as (ii) include copies of reasonably available documentary

evidence supporting the claim, including pertinent portions of trial transcripts and

affidavits or declarations.’ ” (Finley, supra, 95 Cal.App.5th at p. 21.) It concluded that

in order to show a prima case under the CRJA, a defendant “must state fully and with

particularity the facts on which relief is sought, and include copies of reasonably

available documentary evidence supporting the claim. The court should accept the truth

of the defendant’s allegations, including expert evidence and statistics, unless the

allegations are conclusory, unsupported by the evidence presented in support of the

claim, or demonstrably contradicted by the court’s own records. [Citation.] And again,

the court should not make credibility determinations at the prima facie stage.” (Id. at

p. 23, fn. omitted.)

As we have stated, the Legislature did not provide a standard for making a prima

facie case. However, while it is not possible for this court to know the intended

standard under section 745, Finley’s analysis provides a reasonable standard based on

long-standing habeas corpus law.

Here, it is clear to this court that the statistical evidence of racial disparity

presented by way of the studies by Omori, Petersen, and Baumgartner was sufficient to

show a prima facie case of racial disparity in the charging of the death penalty in

Riverside County. Moreover, Petitioner provided factual evidence to show nonminority

defendants in Riverside County were charged with lesser crimes despite being engaged

35 in similar conduct as Petitioner, e.g. drive-by shootings or murders with prior

convictions of murder. The trial court found that Petitioner had failed to provide cases

that were similarly situated based on other factors in the cases involving nonminority

defendants. It concluded there could be other reasons that the death penalty may not

have been sought in those cases. This included whether the victim’s family wanted the

District Attorney to pursue the death penalty. Hence, it placed the burden on Petitioner

at the prima facie stage to prove that the factors relevant in charging the nonminority

defendants were similar to his case, and arguably, prove there were no race-neutral

reasons for the differences in the charges.

The language of the statute and the legislative history give this court no guidance

as to how or when a defendant must prove that “factors that are relevant in charging . . .

are similar. . . .” (§ 745, subd. (h)(6).) However, section 745, subdivision (h)(1),

provides that the District Attorney is responsible for providing race-neutral reasons for

the disparity in charging Petitioner with the death penalty. As stated, the definition of

section 745, subdivision (h)(1), provides that “more frequently sought or obtained”

means “the totality of the evidence demonstrates a significant difference in seeking or

obtaining convictions . . . comparing individuals who have engaged in similar conduct

and are similarly situated, and the prosecution cannot establish race-neutral reasons for

the disparity.”

The statute provides that evidence of race-neutral reasons for racial disparity is to

be presented by the District Attorney, not Petitioner. As such, it follows that the

presentation of evidence of race-neutral reasons is a defense after the prima facie case

36 has been shown. It is not entirely clear if the burden also falls on the District Attorney

to show the relevant factors that were used in deciding to charge both the nonminority

defendants and Petitioner. As defined, race-neutral reasons “shall be relevant factors to

charges, . . . that are not influenced by implicit, systemic, or institutional bias based on

race, ethnicity, or national origin.” (§ 745, subd. (h)(1).)

Based on the foregoing, if a defendant provides statistical evidence showing a

racial disparity in the charging of nonminority defendants and African-American

defendants, and provides evidence of nonminority defendants who engage in similar

conduct and are similarly situated but were charged with lesser crimes than the charged

African-American defendant, this is sufficient to show there was more than a mere

possibility that a violation of section 745, subdivision (a), has occurred. As such, a

defendant has met his burden of establishing a prima facie case. An evidentiary hearing

should be ordered at that point to consider all of the relevant factors in charging and

allow the District Attorney to present race-neutral reasons for the disparity in seeking

While we cannot establish a bright-line rule of what constitutes sufficient

evidence of “similar conduct” in all cases, here, Petitioner in the Second Motion

provided the facts of several cases that shared many of the same characteristics as this

case, including other drive-by shootings and multiple murders committed by

nonminority defendants who were not charged with the death penalty. In addition,

Petitioner presented ample evidence that the District Attorney’s capital system more

frequently sought convictions for more serious offenses against African-American

37 defendants. This was enough to provide more than a “mere possibility” that a violation

of section 745, subdivision (a)(3), had occurred. The trial court erred by finding

Petitioner did not establish a prima facie showing of a violation. Once Petitioner

presented this evidence, the trial court should have ordered an evidentiary hearing at

which the burden shifted to the District Attorney to show the race-neutral reasons for

the disparity in seeking the death penalty against Petitioner, which include the relevant

factors to charges that were not influenced by implicit or systemic racial bias. The trial

court, after receiving such evidence, could then make a decision based on the totality of

the evidence.

DISPOSITION

Let a writ of mandate issue directing the Superior Court of Riverside County to

vacate its order denying Petitioner’s request for a hearing, and to conduct an evidentiary

hearing as set forth in this opinion. The stay ordered on May 4, 2023, is LIFTED.

MILLER Acting P. J.

I concur:

CODRINGTON J.

38 [Mosby v. Superior Court, E080924]

MENETREZ, J., Concurring.

Defendant Michael Earl Mosby III was charged in Riverside County Superior

Court with murder with special circumstances, and the prosecution gave notice that it

intended to seek the death penalty. Mosby filed a motion for a hearing under the

California Racial Justice Act of 2020 (Stats. 2020, ch. 317, § 1) (RJA). Mosby, who is

Black, presented statistical evidence showing significant racial disparities concerning

the death penalty in Riverside County. The evidence showed that Black defendants are

charged with murder, charged with special circumstances, and subject to death notices

at rates far higher than their proportion of the adult population in Riverside County, and

that the corresponding rates for White defendants are far lower than their proportion of

the adult population. Mosby’s statistical evidence also included regression analyses

showing that (1) “[e]ven after controlling for important legally relevant factors like the

presence of multiple victims or a felony, logistic regression results indicate that murders

with Black and Hispanic defendants are more likely to involve a special circumstance, a

death notice, and a death verdict,” (2) similar disparities occur with respect to Black

victims and White victims, and (3) the disparities “are especially pronounced in cases

involving White victims and minority defendants.”

The trial court denied Mosby’s motion without prejudice, ruling that more than

statistical evidence is required to make a prima facie case under the RJA. Mosby then

filed a second motion seeking the same relief, supported both by the statistical evidence

proffered in support of the first motion and by additional, nonstatistical evidence, in an

1 effort to meet the standard set by the court when it denied the first motion. The court

denied the second motion, concluding that Mosby’s evidence was still not sufficient to

make a prima facie case.

In his petition for writ review of the trial court’s rulings, Mosby argues that

statistical evidence can be sufficient on its own to make a prima facie case of a violation

of the RJA, and he argues that his statistical evidence was in fact sufficient. I agree, and

I would grant the petition on that basis.

A. Statutory Background

The RJA provides that “[t]he state shall not seek or obtain a criminal conviction

or seek, obtain, or impose a sentence on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin.”

(Pen. Code, § 745, subd. (a); unlabeled statutory citations are to this code.) The statute

further “sets forth four categories of conduct, any of which, if proved, is enough to

‘establish’ a violation of section 745, subdivision (a).” (Young v. Superior Court (2022)

79 Cal.App.5th 138, 147 (Young).) One of the categories under which Mosby seeks

relief is subdivision (a)(3) of section 745: “The defendant was charged or convicted of

a more serious offense than defendants of other races, ethnicities, or national origins

who commit similar offenses and are similarly situated, and the evidence establishes

that the prosecution more frequently sought or obtained convictions for more serious

offenses against people who share the defendant’s race, ethnicity, or national origin in

the county where the convictions were sought or obtained.” The statute also explains

that “‘[m]ore frequently sought or obtained’ or ‘more frequently imposed’ means that

the totality of the evidence demonstrates a significant difference in seeking or obtaining

2 convictions or in imposing sentences comparing individuals who have engaged in

similar conduct and are similarly situated, and the prosecution cannot establish race-

neutral reasons for the disparity.” (§ 745, subd. (h)(1).)

If a defendant files a motion alleging a violation of subdivision (a) of section

745, and the defendant “makes a prima facie showing” of such a violation, then “the

trial court shall hold a hearing.” (§ 745, subd. (c).) The statute defines “prima facie

showing” as follows: It “means that the defendant produces facts that, if true, establish

that there is a substantial likelihood that a violation of subdivision (a) occurred. For

purposes of this section, a ‘substantial likelihood’ requires more than a mere possibility,

but less than a standard of more likely than not.” (§ 745, subd. (h)(2).)

At the subsequent hearing conducted if the defendant makes a prima facie

showing, “evidence may be presented by either party, including, but not limited to,

statistical evidence, aggregate data, expert testimony, and the sworn testimony of

witnesses. The court may also appoint an independent expert. For the purpose of a

motion and hearing under this section, out-of-court statements that the court finds

trustworthy and reliable, statistical evidence, and aggregated data are admissible for the

limited purpose of determining whether a violation of subdivision (a) has occurred.”

(§ 745, subd. (c)(1).) At the hearing, the defendant bears the burden of proof by a

preponderance of the evidence, but “[t]he defendant does not need to prove intentional

discrimination” in order to prevail. (§ 745, subd. (c)(2).)

3 B. McCleskey, the RJA, and Statistical Evidence

In my view, the relationship between the RJA and McCleskey v. Kemp (1987)

481 U.S. 279 (McCleskey) shows that the trial court’s ruling—that statistical evidence

cannot be sufficient to make a prima facie case—cannot be correct.

In McCleskey, a defendant who had been sentenced to death in Georgia argued

that his conviction and sentence were unconstitutional because statistical evidence

“show[ed] a disparity in the imposition of the death sentence in Georgia based on the

race of the murder victim and, to a lesser extent, the race of the defendant,” a disparity

that persisted “even after taking account of 39 nonracial variables.” (McCleskey, supra,

481 U.S. at pp. 286-287.) The Supreme Court rejected the defendant’s constitutional

claim, concluding that the statistical evidence “[a]t most . . . indicates a discrepancy that

appears to correlate with race.” (Id. at p. 312.) The court reaffirmed “the basic

principle that a defendant who alleges an equal protection violation has the burden of

proving ‘the existence of purposeful discrimination.’” (Id. at p. 292.) And the court

concluded that the statistical evidence before it was “clearly insufficient to support an

inference that any of the decisionmakers in McCleskey’s case acted with discriminatory

purpose.” (Id. at p. 297.) Four justices dissented, with Justice Brennan observing that

the majority’s concern “that recognition of McCleskey’s claim would open the door to

widespread challenges to all aspects of criminal sentencing . . . seems to suggest a fear

of too much justice.” (Id. at p. 339 (dis. opn. of Brennan, J.).)

“There is little doubt which side of the McCleskey debate our Legislature has

aligned California with by statute.” (Young, supra, 79 Cal.App.5th at p. 152.) The

4 RJA’s legislative findings cite McCleskey for the proposition that “[e]xisting precedent

. . . accepts racial disparities in our criminal justice system as inevitable” (Assem. Bill

No. 2542 (2019-2020 Reg. Sess.) § 2, subd. (f) (Assembly Bill 2542)), and the findings

then state that “[i]t is the intent of the Legislature to reject the conclusion that racial

disparities within our criminal justice are inevitable, and to actively work to eradicate

them” (id., subd. (i)). Directly contrary to McCleskey’s requirement that an equal

protection claimant prove “purposeful discrimination” (McCleskey, supra, 481 U.S. at

p. 292), the findings acknowledge the existence of “implicit bias,” which is “often

unintentional and unconscious,” and the findings express the Legislature’s intent “to

remedy the harm to the defendant’s case and to the integrity of the judicial system”

caused by such bias (Assem. Bill 2542, § 2, subd. (i)). Accordingly, the RJA provides

that “[t]he defendant does not need to prove intentional discrimination.” (§ 745, subd.

(c)(2).)

Considered in light of that background, the trial court’s conclusion that statistical

evidence cannot be sufficient to make a prima facie case under the RJA must be

mistaken. McCleskey held that statistical evidence cannot be sufficient to prove

purposeful discrimination and hence cannot be sufficient to prevail on an equal

protection claim. In enacting the RJA, the Legislature expressly rejected McCleskey

and the requirement to prove intentional discrimination, expressly seeking to provide

remedies for implicit bias even though it is “often unintentional and unconscious”

(Assem. Bill 2542 (2019-2020 Reg. Sess.) § 2, subd. (i)). Thus, it cannot reasonably be

denied that the Legislature intended that relief be more broadly available under the RJA

5 than under McCleskey. But if the trial court were right that statistical evidence cannot

be sufficient even for a prima facie case under the RJA, then the RJA would be

narrower than McCleskey, which held only that statistical evidence cannot be sufficient

to prevail.

Other aspects of the statutory language further support that conclusion. First, the

Legislature set a low standard for a prima facie case under the RJA: The defendant

need only show that there is “more than a mere possibility” that subdivision (a) of

section 745 has been violated. (§ 745, subd. (h)(2); see also Finley v. Superior Court

(2023) 95 Cal.App.5th 12, 21-22 [discussing the standard for a prima facie case under

the RJA, which is lower than the prima facie standard for writs of habeas corpus].) It is

hard to see how the following three propositions can be reconciled: (1) McCleskey held

that statistical evidence by itself is not sufficient to prevail; (2) the Legislature intended

to create a broader remedial scheme than McCleskey; but (3) the Legislature provided

that statistical evidence by itself is not sufficient even to show more than a mere

possibility of prevailing. The reasonable inference is that statistical evidence can be

sufficient to make a prima facie case.

Second, the RJA provides that for purposes of a claim of disparate treatment

under subdivision (a)(3) of section 745, the burden is on the prosecution to “establish

race-neutral reasons for the disparity.” (§ 745, subd. (h)(1); see § 745, subd. (a)(3).) It

follows that in order to prevail on a claim under subdivision (a)(3) of section 745 a

defendant is not required to negate every possible race-neutral reason for the disparate

treatment. Rather, the burden is on the prosecution to prove such reasons. A fortiori,

6 the defendant need not negate every possible race-neutral reason for the disparate

treatment in order to make a prima facie case. Showing the disparate treatment itself—

which can be done through statistical evidence—is enough.

Nothing in the statutory language requires a contrary conclusion. The trial court

focused on the requirement in subdivision (a)(3) of section 745 that “[t]he defendant

was charged or convicted of a more serious offense than defendants of other races,

ethnicities, or national origins who have engaged in similar conduct and are similarly

situated.” (Italics added.) The court concluded “that there has to be some showing

more than statistical analysis that individually these defendants . . . are being

discriminated against, vis-a-vis, nonminority defendants that are similarly situated, with

similar cases, charges, and all of the other factors that go into it.” The court thus

appears to have inferred from the statutory language that Mosby needed to produce

evidence that there was another defendant who was similar to Mosby in all material

respects (“all of the other factors that go into it”) but as to whom the prosecution did not

seek the death penalty.

No such inference is warranted. Again, if statistical evidence cannot be

sufficient for a prima facie case under the RJA, then the RJA is narrower than

McCleskey despite the Legislature’s expressed intent to make it broader. The RJA’s

inclusion of the words “similarly situated” does not compel such an incongruous

interpretation, because an alternative interpretation is readily available: Statistical

techniques such as regression analysis can show that racial disparities exist even when

one controls for various relevant characteristics, meaning that racial disparities exist

7 among defendants who are similarly situated (i.e., defendants who share those relevant

characteristics). The statute’s reference to defendants who are “similarly situated” thus

does not mean that a defendant must prove, at the prima facie stage, that there is at least

one other defendant who is identical except for race and has an identical case except for

race but who was treated less harshly. Moreover, the effect of the trial court’s

interpretation would be to put the burden on the defendant, at the prima facie stage, to

negate every possible race-neutral reason for the racial disparities shown by the

statistical evidence. That conflicts with the statutory language, which puts the burden

on the prosecution to “establish race-neutral reasons for the disparity.” (§ 745, subd.

(h)(1).)

For all of the foregoing reasons, I conclude that the trial court erred by ruling that

more than statistical evidence is required to make a prima facie case under the RJA.

Moreover, the district attorney does not otherwise challenge the sufficiency of Mosby’s

statistical evidence, and the evidence is clearly sufficient to make a prima facie case.

Mosby’s statistical evidence appears to be at least as strong as the statistical evidence at

issue in McCleskey, and given that statistical evidence can be sufficient to make a prima

facie case, I see no basis to conclude that Mosby’s evidence fails to show more than a

mere possibility of proving a violation of section 745, subdivision (a).

Finally, there is an aspect of the People’s argument that I believe should be

briefly addressed. In their return to Mosby’s writ petition, the People claim that Mosby

is “accus[ing] the District Attorney of racism.” The People made the same claim in the

trial court: “And let’s be very clear. The defense here is calling all of us racist.” The

8 People do not elaborate or attempt to defend the claim, and I believe that the claim is

mistaken. Mosby is bringing a claim under the RJA. Such a claim does not require

proof of “intentional discrimination.” (§ 745, subd. (c)(2).) Moreover, the RJA was

expressly intended to provide remedies for harms caused by implicit bias, which is

“often unintentional and unconscious” (Assem. Bill 2542 (2019-2020 Reg. Sess.) § 2,

subd. (i)), and “[t]he Legislature has acknowledged that all persons possess implicit

biases” (id., subd. (g)). Nothing in the legislative findings or elsewhere in the RJA

suggests that the Legislature was accusing all persons of racism. Mosby’s motion for

relief under the RJA is similar. He contends that he has introduced sufficient evidence

to make a prima facie case under that statute. The statute does not require—either for a

prima facie case or to prevail at a subsequent hearing—that Mosby allege or prove that

the prosecutors are racist, and nothing in the record suggests that he is attempting to do

so.

The trial court erred by concluding that statistical evidence cannot be sufficient

to make a prima facie case under the RJA. Mosby’s statistical evidence was sufficient.

I therefore concur in the judgment granting the petition and directing the trial court to

conduct a hearing under subdivision (c) of section 745.

MENETREZ

J.