People v. Morelos

Summary

The court affirmed Morelos’s guilt determination and death judgment, while striking one prior prison-term enhancement and vacating the consecutive prison sentence for resentencing. It held that Morelos validly waived counsel and a jury, that his conduct did not constitute an impermissible slow plea, and that the capital guilty-plea consent requirement remained constitutional. The court also rejected challenges concerning advisory counsel, trial fairness, penalty review, and the constitutionality of California’s death-penalty scheme.