People v. Griffin CA3

BACKGROUND

We omit a summary of the facts underlying defendant’s conviction as they are not relevant to our disposition of this case. It suffices to say that in 1993 a jury found defendant guilty of several felony counts with firearm and injury enhancements. The trial court found true multiple prior conviction enhancements, including two prior prison term enhancements pursuant to section 667.5, subdivision (b). The court sentenced defendant to an aggregate term of life in prison plus 17 years, which included one consecutive year for each of the prior prison term enhancements.

2 The Department referred defendant to the trial court as a person having a judgment with one or more qualifying priors under section 1172.75.2 On November 2, 2023, the court recalled defendant’s sentence, appointed counsel, and set a briefing schedule. On November 22, 2023, defendant filed a Marsden motion seeking immediate removal of appointed counsel claiming there had been no meaningful communication from counsel between March 3, 2023, and November 15, 2023.3 On December 4, 2023, the court denied defendant’s Marsden motion without holding a hearing. The court noted that defendant’s complaints related…