People v. Gonzalez

Opinion

KENNARD, J.

In People v. Scott (1994) 9 Cal.4th 331 [36 Cal.Rptr.2d 627, 885 P.2d 1040] (Scott), this court held that a party in a criminal case may not challenge the trial court’s discretionary sentencing choices on appeal if that party did not object at trial. Scott stressed, however, that counsel must have a “meaningful opportunity to object [which] can occur only if, during the course of the sentencing hearing itself and before objections are made, the parties are clearly apprised of the sentence the court intends to impose, and the reasons that support any discretionary sentencing…