California Supreme Court

People v. Mickel

December 19, 2016

Summary

The court affirmed the capital murder judgment and death sentence in full. It held that the trial court was not required to conduct a competency hearing because the information before it did not constitute substantial evidence that defendant could not understand the proceedings or assist in his defense. The court also upheld defendant's waiver of counsel, exclusion of his proposed liberty defense, jury rulings, and the challenged capital-sentencing procedures.