People v. Rodriguez

Defendant was charged with criminal offenses. Defendant filed a renewed motion to suppress pursuant to Cal. Penal Code 1538.5(i). Judge Vincent Chiarello granted the renewed motion, and the case was dismissed at the People’s request. Thereafter, the People filed a new complaint alleging the same offenses. Defendant filed a motion to suppress, asserting that the proper venue for the motion was before Judge Chiarello pursuant to section 1538.5(p). The matter came before Judge Vanessa Zecher after Judge Jerome Nadler concluded that Judge Chiarello was not available. Judge Zecher denied Defendant’s motion. Defendant filed a renewed motion to suppress, arguing that Judge Chiarello should have heard the relitigated motion to suppress. The trial court concluded that a renewed motion to suppress under section 1538.5(i) was not the proper vehicle for setting aside Judge Zecher’s order. Defendant was found guilty of child pornography. The Court of Appeal affirmed. The Supreme Court reversed, holding (1) a trial court’s discretion to make determinations concerning the availability of judges must be exercised in a manner consistent with constraints imposed by section 1538.5(p); and (2) in this case, the trial court abused its discretion by not taking reasonable measures to ensure compliance with section 1538.5(p), and the error was prejudicial. View "People v. Rodriguez" on Justia Law