Vigil

DISCUSSION

I. Racial Justice Act

A. Summary In 2020, the California Legislature enacted the Racial Justice Act through the passage of Assembly Bill 2542, which amended sections 1473 and 1473.7 and added section 745, effective January 1, 2021. (Stats. 2020, ch. 317, §§ 3–5.) As this court

Assembly Bill No. 256 (2021–2022 Reg. Sess.) (Assembly Bill 256), effective January 3, 2023.

3. recently summarized in People v. Singh (2024) 103 Cal.App.5th 76 (Singh), the Racial Justice Act’s “declared intent is ‘to eliminate racial bias from California’s criminal justice system because racism in any form or amount, at any stage of a criminal trial, is intolerable, inimical to a fair criminal justice system, is a miscarriage of justice under Article VI of the California Constitution, and violates the laws and Constitution of the State of California. Implicit bias, although often unintentional and unconscious, may inject racism and unfairness into proceedings similar to intentional bias.’ (Stats. 2020, ch. 317, § 2, subd. (i).). The Legislature expressed its intent not to punish implicit bias, ‘but rather to remedy the harm to the defendant’s case and to the integrity of the…