People v. Barrera

82 Cal. Rptr. 2d 755, 70 Cal. App. 4th 541, 99 Daily Journal DAR 2118, 99 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 1654, 1999 Cal. App. LEXIS 181
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 3, 1999
DocketB120948
StatusPublished
Cited by33 cases

This text of 82 Cal. Rptr. 2d 755 (People v. Barrera) 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
People v. Barrera, 82 Cal. Rptr. 2d 755, 70 Cal. App. 4th 541, 99 Daily Journal DAR 2118, 99 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 1654, 1999 Cal. App. LEXIS 181 (Cal. Ct. App. 1999).

Opinion

Opinion

NOTT, J.

J.Michael V. Barrera appeals from the judgment entered upon his conviction by jury of forgery of a check (Pen. Code, § 470, subd. (a)), with findings that he had suffered two prior'serious felony convictions within the *545 meaning of the “Three Strikes” law (Pen. Code, §§ 1170.12, subds. (a)-(d), 667, subds. (b)-(i)). He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Appellant contends that his conviction must be reversed because the commissioner who presided over his trial had represented him at his arraignment in this same case and was therefore disqualified from serving as trial judge in this matter. He further contends that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing to strike one of his prior felony convictions and that his sentence constitutes cruel and/or unusual punishment. Respondent contends that the judgment must be modified to reflect a restitution fine pursuant to Penal Code section 1202.4, subdivision (b) and a parole revocation fine pursuant to Penal Code section 1202.45.

We hold that although the commissioner’s disqualification was one which, by statute, shall not be waived by the parties and their attorneys, appellant may not now obtain review of the issue, because he failed to seek writ review as required under Code of Civil Procedure section 170.3, subdivision (d).

. We also hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to dismiss a “strike,” and that the sentence imposed is not cruel or unusual.

Facts

The evidence established that on July 11, 1997, appellant asked a North Hollywood bank teller to cash a check made out to him by S.K. Textile, Inc., in the amount of $386.11. The bank had previously been informed that counterfeit checks from the textile company had been presented for cashing, and the teller received a computer message indicating a possible forgery on the S.K. Textile account. He informed appellant that he had to obtain authorization to cash the check. As the teller walked away, taking with him the check and the identification appellant had presented, appellant and his companion, who had been attempting a similar transaction with another teller, quickly left the bank. The teller summoned police and gave them the check and appellant’s identification. The check appellant presented to the bank had not been issued by S.K. Textile. Appellant had never worked for the company and the controller of the company had never issued a check to him.

Appellant sustained two convictions of robbery in 1986.

Procedural Background

The matter was assigned to Commissioner Michael M. Duffey. Before trial commenced, Commissioner Duffey informed appellant and both counsel that in examining the file, he discovered that he had represented appellant *546 at his arraignment in this matter some three months earlier while he was employed as a deputy public defender, in which capacity he had worked until his recent election as commissioner.

Commissioner Duffey explained as follows: “I don’t think you recall, because it was a brief appearance. I didn’t interview you, but my name appears on the arraignment sheet out of Division 100 back in November the 25th, 1997, and I’m the person that stood next to you as you entered your plea of not guilty and set your preliminary hearing date for December the 8th in Division 116. [f] I’ve reviewed [defense counsel’s] file, and I see my writing as to the hew date. So I’m certain that I did appear for you briefly. I don’t believe that I interviewed you. I don’t believe that I made any motions because it was a Three-Strikes case. Bail was not an issue. [H] So I made a rather brief appearance. I doubt we even had much in terms of conversation. But I want that to be on the record so [the prosecutor] knows at one point that I did represent you briefly. [H] [Defense counsel], of course, is on notice of that fact, and you know that. ft¡] Before you agree that I hear your case, I want you to be aware of that; and if that causes you any problem one way or the other, I’ll be happy to send your case to a different court.”

Commissioner Duffey then asked appellant, “Are you willing to have me sit on judgment of you as the commissioner in your case?” Appellant replied, “Yes.” The commissioner continued, “Despite the fact I did represent you at one time?” Appellant replied, “Yes.” The commissioner asked defense counsel, “Similarly ... I assume it’s not a problem for you?” Defense counsel answered, “No problem, Your Honor.” Commissioner Duffey asked defense counsel, “And you signed a stipulation to let me sit?” Counsel . responded affirmatively. The commissioner asked appellant whether he had joined in the stipulation. Appellant replied, “Yes, I did.” 1 The commissioner asked the prosecutor, “[Y]ou’re aware of my involvement in the case, although not very much of an involvement. I did represent Mr. Barrera for a brief time. fl[] Is that any problem for you?” The prosecutor replied, “No problem, Your Honor.”

The commissioner stated, “I have told you in chambers, and I’ve told you .on the record. I don’t expect that the fact I was a public defender, or more importantly, that I did represent Mr. Barrera for a short period of time, will affect me in any way in this case. I believe I will treat you, Mr. Barrera, as well as [the prosecutor] and [defense counsel], as I would any other attorneys or litigant that appears in front of me.” Appellant stated that he *547 understood this. The commissioner continued, “If you have any reservations at all, now is the time to voice them.” Appellant replied, “I don’t.” The commissioner said to the prosecutor, “[Y]ou’ve also allowed me to sit as the judge in this case.” The prosecutor replied, “Yes, Your Honor.” The parties then proceeded to discuss other matters.

Discussion

I. Appellant may not now seek appellate review on the ground that the commissioner was disqualified from serving as judge in this matter.

Appellant contends that the purported waivers by the parties were a nullity because the disqualification of the commissioner could not be waived, and that his conviction must therefore be reversed. This claim must fail.

Code of Civil Procedure section 170.1, subdivision (a)(2), 2 provides that a judge “shall be disqualified” if the judge “served as a lawyer in the proceeding, or in any other proceeding involving the same issues he or she served as a lawyer for any party in the present proceeding or gave advice to any party in the present proceeding upon any matter involved in the action or proceeding.” The parties do not dispute that Commissioner Duffey comes within this provision.

Section 170.3, subdivision (a)(1) provides, in pertinent part, “Whenever a judge determines himself or herself to be disqualified, the judge shall notify the presiding judge of the court of his or her recusal and shall not further participate in the proceeding . . .

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Bluebook (online)
82 Cal. Rptr. 2d 755, 70 Cal. App. 4th 541, 99 Daily Journal DAR 2118, 99 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 1654, 1999 Cal. App. LEXIS 181, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-barrera-calctapp-1999.