Brewer v. Municipal Court
Brewer v. Municipal Court
Opinion of the Court
Petitioner seeks a writ of mandate to compel the respondent court to dismiss an action brought against him by the People of the State of California, real party in interest here, charging him with violation of section 23102, subdivision (a), of the Vehicle Code.
It is petitioner’s contention that he was not brought to trial within 30 days after he was arrested and “brought within the jurisdiction of the court.” On the other hand, the People contend that the trial date was set within 30 days of the time petitioner was “brought within the jurisdiction of the court” as that phrase is used in section 1382 of the Penal Code, but that in any event petitioner waived his right to be so brought to trial.
The facts to which the law here must be applied are: On November 5, 1960, petitioner was arrested while driving an automobile upon the charge that he was then intoxicated. On that day he was taken to the county jail and booked. He posted with the jailor, pursuant to section 1269b of the Penal Code, cash bail and was given notice to appear before the respondent court for arraignment on November 10th. On November 7th a formal complaint was filed against him charging him with violation of the above-mentioned section of the Penal Code. On November 10th, petitioner appeared and entered a plea of not guilty and trial was set for December 8th. The court did not then or at any time explain to petitioner his right to be brought to trial within 30 days or the effect of his failing to object to a trial date beyond 30 days as required by section 1382 of the Penal Code and petitioner did not then waive his right to be tried within the statutory period.
Thereafter petitioner employed counsel, who, on November 25th, gave notice of motion for an order requiring the People to permit him to inspect the statements and reports of the arresting officers. This motion was heard on November 29th and taken under submission by the court. The court, on December 2d, granted the motion and petitioner’s counsel, late on the same day, was advised of the court’s order.
It will be noted from the facts above stated that the trial was set 33 days after the defendant was arrested and deposited bail, 31 days after the filing of the complaint and but 28 days after the petitioner’s arraignment.
Petitioner argues that when he placed himself in the constructive custody of the court by his recognizance he was brought within the jurisdiction of the court within the meaning of section 1382. This contention cannot be sustained for when he was arrested and confined he was within the actual custody of the court and when he gave bail he still remained within the custody of the court although that custody was constructive and his status remained as one under arrest. It is therefore evident that the arrest, either with or without admission to bail, only meets the first condition fixed by section 1382, subdivision 3, and that the phrase “brought within the jurisdiction of the court” requires something more than being brought within the custody of the court. However, when a complaint was filed against the petitioner he was within the custody of the court, even though on bail, for the purpose of prosecution of the action against him. We hold, therefore, that the time within which petitioner was entitled to a trial was 30 days from the filing of the complaint after his arrest and admission to bail. The action not having been set or called for trial until 31 days after the filing of the complaint, petitioner was entitled to have the action dismissed unless he had waived the right to an earlier trial.
The pertinent language of Penal Code, section 1382, contained in the last paragraph of that section as amended in 1959, is as follows: “If the defendant is not represented by counsel, he shall not be deemed under this section to have consented to the date for his trial unless the court has explained to him his rights under this section and the effect of his consent.” This provision of the statute was undoubtedly meant to exclude a defendant who appeared without counsel at his arraignment from the operation of the provisions of section 1382, subdivision 3, wherein it is provided that the action shall be dismissed when a defendant in a misdemeanor case is not brought to trial within 30 days after he is arrested and brought within the jurisdiction of the court “except that an action shall not be dismissed under this subdivision if it is set for trial on a date beyond the 30-day period at the request of the defendant or with his consent, express or implied . . .,” and the decision of the courts that a defendant who fails to object to a date beyond the 30-day period impliedly consents to that date. (People v. Tahtinen, 50 Cal.2d 127, 131 [323 P.2d 442] ; People v. Anderson, 126 Cal.App.2d 702 [272 P.2d 805]; Krouse v. Justice’s Court, 103 Cal.App.2d 311 [229 P.2d 806].)
The People contend, however, that there is an implied consent to the date fixed by the court for trial and therefore an implied waiver of the right to be tried within the statutory period even though the defendant is not represented by counsel at his arraignment and the court does not advise him in accordance with the statute if the defendant thereafter and before the expiration of the 30 days employs counsel. We cannot agree.
In the present case the fact that petitioner’s counsel sought discovery of certain records from the People is no evidence whatsoever of a waiver by defendant of his right to trial within the statutory period for there is no showing that at the time he sought discovery that he knew that his client at his arraignment had not waived his right to be tried within 30 days nor any showing that the client was then advised of his right to be tried within 30 days. Under these circumstances it could not be held that there was a voluntary relinquishment of a known right.
The People further contend that inasmuch as the record establishes that petitioner’s counsel discovered on December 6th that the case was set for trial beyond the 30-day period and that his client had not been advised of his right to an early trial at the time the case was set, petitioner should have then moved the trial court to advance the trial from the 8th to the 7th of December and that having failed so to do his failure constituted a waiver of his right to trial within the statutory period. The law does not require useless acts. Whether it would have been useless for petitioner to move on one day’s notice to advance a case for trial is a matter peculiarly within the knowledge of the judge of the respondent court who, as we have said, impliedly found there was no waiver.
The action having been set for trial beyond the 30-day period and petitioner not having waived his rights to an
The alternative writ is discharged. Let a peremptory writ of mandate issue directing the respondent court to dismiss the action.
Ford, J., concurred.
December 2d fell on Friday.
Assigned by Chairman of Judicial Council.
The appellate department of the superior court reversed, holding that under the facts we have stated, waiver of the time for trial was established as a matter of law. (People v. Brewer, 190 Cal.App.2d Supp. 879 [12 Cal.Rptr. 478].)
It is apparent from the briefs filed by the People here that the People, before the trial court, contended that the 30-day period commenced on the filing of the complaint and that they resisted the motion to dismiss on the ground of waiver.
Concurring Opinion
I agree with the majority of the court that a peremptory writ of mandate should issue compelling the respondent court to dismiss the action. It is my opinion, however, that when petitioner, upon being booked after his arrest, posted and was released on bail, he was brought within the jurisdiction of the court within the meaning of section 1382, subdivision 3, of the Penal Code and that the 30-day period fixed by the statute commenced to run at the time he was admitted to bail.
A petition for a rehearing was denied July 18, 1961, and the petition of the real party in interest for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied August 23, 1961.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- VERNON DALE BREWER, Petitioner, v. MUNICIPAL COURT FOR THE EAST LOS ANGELES JUDICIAL DISTRICT Et Al., Respondents; THE PEOPLE, Real Party in Interest
- Cited By
- 17 cases
- Status
- Published