HomeMy WebLinkAbout72-70 - Urging Legislation to Modernize the California Judicial SystemRESOLUTION NO. 72-70
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA,
CALIFORNIA, URGING ADOPTION OF LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT
CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE SELECT
COMMITTEE ON TRIAL COURT DELAY.
WHEREAS, the Select Committee on Trial Court Delay, constituted by
�^ the State of California, has studied California judicial processes as a
part of the criminal justice system; and
WHEREAS, after extensive research, the Select Committee on Trial Court
Delay has proposed certain recommendations to improve the California System
of Criminal Justice; and
WHEREAS, the City Council feels that adoption of certain recommendations
would improve the judicial process and provide for equal justice under the
law, as well as modernize and make more effective the judicial system in
California.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of
Costa Mesa, urges the California State Legislature to adopt legislation
implementing the following recommendations of the Select Committee on Trial
Court Delay:
1. Expand the infraction category of public offenses to include moving
violations of a non -serious nature, presently classified as misdemeanors.
2. Reduce jury size in selected criminal cases to provide a criminal
jury composed of six people in those felony prosecutions where an alleged
offense is neither punishable with death nor with a maximum sentence of
life imprisonment; or where the alleged offense is prosecuted as a
misdemeanor.
3. Authorize majority verdicts in selected criminal cases with a five -
sixths majority of the jurors in certain felony prosecutions, and in prosecu-
tions where the alleged offense is a misdemeanor.
4. Require certification of counsel for participation in felony trial
proceedings by creating a commission to establish and administer a compulsory
certification program for counsel who participate in felony trial proceedings.
5. Enact an alibi statute to regulate mutual pre-trial disclosure of
the identity of witnesses who are expected to contradict or support an alibi
defense at trial.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California State Supervisors' Association,
the League of California Cities and the legislative bodies of every city and
county in California be requested to consider and adopt a similar resolution
urging implementation of the recommendations noted above.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 17th day of July, 1972.
Mayor of the City of Costa Mesa
ATTEST:
p -
City Clerk of the City of f
sta Mesa
Z
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, EILEEN P. PHINNEY, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa and ex -officio
Clerk of the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the
above and foregoing Resolution No. 72-70 was duly and regularly passed and
adopted by the said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the
17th day of July, 1972.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal
of the City of Costa Mesa, this 18th day of July, 1972.
City Clerk and ex -officio ClerkXf the
City Council of the City of Co a Mesa