People v. Mickel

After a jury trial, Defendant was convicted of the first degree murder of a peace officer. The trial court sentenced Defendant to death. The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment in its entirety, holding (1) the trial court did not err in failing to suspend proceedings and investigate whether Defendant was competent to stand trial; (2) Defendant’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim was inappropriate to address on appeal; (3) the trial court’s failure to suspend proceedings and hold a competency hearing prior to judgment did not violate Defendant’s due process rights; (4) the trial court did not err in allowing Defendant to waive his right to counsel; (5) the trial court did not err by failing to revoke Defendant’s self-representation during the penalty phase pursuant to Cal. Penal Code 686.1; (6) the trial court did not err in failing to obtain an updated Faretta waiver after the People filed a notice of intent to seek death; (7) Defendant’s claim that certain jurors should have been excused for cause was forfeited; (8) the trial court did not deprive Defendant of his constitutional right to testify in his own defense by excluding his liberty defense; and (9) Defendant’s challenges to the death penalty statute were without merit. View "People v. Mickel" on Justia Law