Monday, January 09, 2012

People v. Pearson (Cal. Supreme Ct. - Jan. 9, 2012)

What?!  A California Supreme Court death penalty opinion that's only three dozen pages long?!  And that unanimously reverses the death sentence?!

Seems like 2012 may well be a freaky year.  Or perhaps this, alongside that whole Mayan thing, is another sign of the coming apocalypse.

So get prepared.  Just in case.

Okay, okay.  Maybe it's just a totally unique case.  After all, the trial court here bounced a juror for cause even though she consistently said -- without any equivocation -- that yes, she could indeed impose the death penalty.  Said it around half a dozen times, and in response to literally hundreds of oral and written questions.  That's pretty unusual.  And indeed requires reversal of the death sentence.

So maybe it's just an anomaly.  Still.  I'm getting ready.  'Cause you never know.