People v. Blackburn

LIU, J.,

Concurring. — The court holds that when a trial court errs in completely denying a mentally disordered offender (MDO) the right to a jury trial under Penal Code section 2972, subdivision (a), the error requires automatic reversal. (Maj. opn., ante, at p. 1136.) In a companion case filed today, we adopt the same reversal rule when a trial court errs in denying a defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI) the right to a jury trial under Penal Code section 1026.5, subdivision (b). (People v. Tran (2015) 61 Cal.4th 1160, 1163 [191 Cal.Rptr.3d 251, 354 P.3d 148] (Tran).)

The…