People v. Cannon

Summary

The court held that rational basis review governs Cannon’s equal protection challenge to the differing jury advisement and waiver procedures used in sexually violent predator, not guilty by reason of insanity, and offenders-with-mental-health-disorders commitment proceedings. It rejected the argument that personal judicial advisement and waiver procedures are themselves fundamental rights or that the SVPA’s on-demand procedure significantly burdens the fundamental jury-trial right. The court affirmed remand for the trial court to determine whether the differential treatment has a rational basis and whether Cannon knowingly chose to waive a jury trial.