People v. Mayfield

Opinion

MOSK, J.

In People v. Mayfield, ante, page 142 [19 Cal.Rptr.2d 836, 852 P.2d 331] (Mayfield I), we affirmed defendant’s conviction of two first degree murders and his sentence to death. In these companion cases, which we hereby consolidate on our own motion, we address a question related to a single contention of error raised in Mayfield /: whether the San Bernardino Superior Court had the authority to order the trial court in Mayfield I to hold a new hearing on defendant’s automatic motion to modify his death verdict. (Pen. Code, § 190.4, subd. (e); all statutory references are to this…