Tapia v. Superior Court

Opinion

PANELLI,J.

—Proposition 115, the “Crime Victims Justice Reform Act,” changed criminal law in several respects on June 6, 1990. We granted review to determine whether the measure’s provisions should be applied to prosecutions of crimes committed before its effective date. We conclude that certain provisions addressing the conduct of trials, and certain other provisions changing the law to the benefit of defendants, may be applied to such prosecutions. The remainder of the measure’s provisions may not.

Facts

The People have accused petitioner Robert Alan Tapia of committing first degree…