People v. Ellis CA4/1

DISCUSSION

Where a court ruling will have no practical effect or where the court cannot

provide any relief to the parties, such case has become moot. Thus in a case which has

become moot pending appeal, the appeal may be dismissed. (People v. DeLong (2002)

101 Cal.App.4th 482, 486. In People v. Lindsey (1971) 20 Cal.App.3d 742, 744, the

court dismissed an appeal where the defendant, who had been committed to the state

hospital, had been found able to stand trial and criminal proceedings had been reinstated.

Ellis argues that issues involving involuntary administration of antipsychotic

medication may evade appellate review because persons such as Ellis may recover their

We grant the People's request to take judicial notice of the superior court minute order dated December 27, 2013. 2 competence before the appeal is resolved. We recognize the court may exercise

discretion to review a moot case where the issue is of a recurring nature which might

otherwise evade review. However, this is not the case for the exercise of such discretion.

In this case there was no objection in the trial court to the order for involuntary

administration of antipsychotic…