People v. Walker CA4/2

I.

INTRODUCTION

Defendant and appellant Vernon Robert Walker appeals the trial court’s

postjudgment order denying his request to conduct a supplemental sentencing hearing to

develop a record of mitigating circumstances for an eventual youthful offender parole 1 hearing pursuant to Penal Code 1203.01 and In re Cook (2019) 7 Cal.5th 439 (Cook).

The trial court found defendant was ineligible for a youthful offender parole hearing

because he had been sentenced to a term of life without the possibility of parole (LWOP)

and was statutorily ineligible. On appeal, defendant contends the trial court erred in

denying his request for a supplemental hearing because the court misunderstood its scope

of discretion when it found him ineligible. For reasons explained, we affirm the trial 2 court’s denial of a Franklin hearing. However, defendant’s counsel may file with the

clerk of the court a statement of their views concerning mitigating circumstances relating

to defendant and the crimes for which he was convicted for an eventual offender parole

hearing pursuant to section 1203.01.

1 All future statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise stated. 2 People v. Franklin…