Opinion

Mitchell v. Superior Court

  • 49 Cal. 3d 1230
  • 265 Cal. Rptr. 144
  • 783 P.2d 731
  • 1989 Cal. LEXIS 2106
Court
California Supreme Court
Filed
Dec 28, 1989
Status
Published
Author
Panelli
On the bench
Eagleson, Mosk, Lucas, Panelli
Cited by
69 cases

stating that the general/specific statute rule “do[es] not purport to limit the People’s discretion to prosecute under a general statute that provides a sanction less severe than that called for under a specific statute”

How later courts described this case

  • stating that the general/specific statute rule “do[es] not purport to limit the People’s discretion to prosecute under a general statute that provides a sanction less severe than that called for under a specific statute”

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

PANELLI, J., Concurring and Dissenting.

With the exception of the majority’s and conclusion on the “alternative order” issue, I concur in the judgment.

The majority holds imposition of sentence under Code of Civil Procedure section 1209 et seq. violates due process because petitioners were neither charged nor tried under that section. (Maj. opn., ante, at pp. 1249-1253.) The majority cites no authority for this conclusion. However, it appears to me, that one who commits a Penal Code section 11229 contempt necessarily also commits a contempt under Code of Civil Procedure section 1209, subdivision (a) 5; the former is the violation of a specific court order, and the latter is the violation of “any” court order. Moreover, I fail to see how the seven-day court trial in this case would have been different had the *1259 parties been notified and proceeded from the start of this litigation under the Code of Civil Procedure; the same procedures, protections and standard of proof applied. Accordingly, I cannot imagine in what way petitioners’ due process rights might have been prejudiced in this case.

The petition of real party in interest for a rehearing was denied February 1, 1990. Panelli, J., was of the opinion that the petition should be granted.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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