People v. Guerra

Summary

The Court of Appeals affirmed the order granting Diego Guerra a new trial because defense counsel's stipulation effectively conceded the knowing-possession and knowledge elements central to the defense, without any strategic justification. The court held that counsel's agreement to paragraphs 4 and 5 deprived Guerra of meaningful representation under the state standard, and that the later jury instructions and belated objection did not cure the resulting prejudice. The court also rejected Guerra's jurisdictional challenge to the appeal.