People v. Mendez

Opinion

MOSK, J.

A defendant who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a charge in the superior court, and who seeks to take an appeal from a judgment of conviction entered thereon, may not obtain review of so-called “certificate” issues, that is, questions going to the legality of the proceedings, including the validity of his plea, unless he has complied with section 1237.5 of the Penal Code1 and the first paragraph of rule 31(d) of the California Rules of Court2—which require him to file in the superior court a statement of certificate grounds as an intended notice of appeal within 60…