People v. Thomas

Opinion

MOSK, J.

Two years ago we held that a person whom the state seeks to commit to a mental hospital as a “mentally disordered sex offender” (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 6300 et seq.) is entitled on several state and federal constitutional grounds to the safeguards of proof beyond a *633reasonable doubt {People v. Burnick (1975) 14 Cal.3d 306 [121 Cal.Rptr. 488, 535 P.2d 352]) and a unanimous verdict {People v. Feagley (1975) 14 Cal.3d 338, 349-358 [121 Cal.Rptr. 509, 535 P.2d 373]). In each case we expressly left open the question whether a person subjected to involuntary commitment proceedings as…