People v. Superior Court (Romero)

*504Opinion

WERDEGAR, J.

Penal Code section 1385, subdivision (a), authorizes a trial court to dismiss a criminal action “in furtherance of justice” on its own motion. (All further statutory citations are to the Penal Code except as noted.) We have held that the power to dismiss an action includes the lesser power to strike factual allegations relevant to sentencing, such as the allegation that a defendant has prior felony convictions. (People v. Thomas (1992) 4 Cal.4th 206, 209-210 [14 Cal.Rptr.2d 174, 841 P.2d 159]; People v. Burke (1956) 47 Cal.2d 45, 50-51 [301 P.2d 241].) This case raises the…