Green v. Gordon

In 1932, petitioner was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. After affirmance of the conviction (People v. Green, 217 Cal. 176 [17 P.2d 730]), Governor Rolph commuted the sentence to “life imprisonment without parole.” Because of the terms of the commutation, the Adult Authority has refused to entertain petitioner’s application for parole.

The superior court issued an order to show cause why mandate should not be granted to compel the Adult Authority to consider petitioner’s application.* The return consisted of a general demurrer to the petition, and at the hearing thereon the court…