People v. Hoffard

Opinion

WERDEGAR, J.

Penal Code section 1237.5 precludes a criminal defendant from appealing a conviction based on a guilty plea, on grounds going to the validity of the plea or the preplea proceedings, unless the defendant has filed with the trial court a statement of grounds for appeal and the trial court has issued a certificate of probable cause. The question presented here is whether, once the court has issued such a certificate, the defendant may raise on appeal cognizable issues other than those identified in the statement of grounds.

Randall Eugene Hoffard pled guilty to two counts of…