Latest posts tagged with #RJA on Bluesky
📚 Guerrero & Navarro joins Lashon, Singh, Quintero & Wagstaff:
➡️ RJA claims not raised at trial are forfeited.
➡️ Allegations of bias require concrete proof — not inference.
See how the court applied §745(a)(1)-(2) in undercover contexts.
Full write-up → CA RJA Resource Hub
#PC745 #RJA #CrimLaw
⚖️ New on the CA RJA Resource Hub:
People v. Guerrero & Navarro (Unpub. 2025) clarifies:
• RJA forfeiture remains a hard bar on appeal
• “Same-race” undercover tactics alone don’t show bias
• Racialized slang must show animus or discriminatory impact
A must-read for trial lawyers below 👇
#RJA
📌 RJA Practice Tip from People v. Guerrero & Navarro (2025):
Even post-AB 256, courts still strictly enforce:
✅ Timely RJA objections
✅ Factual record tying bias to race
❌ Novel theories without evidentiary support
Preserve early. Build the record.
Full case analysis → CA RJA Resource Hub #RJA
🧰 Practice takeaway: The Stanford–NAACP filings show how data-driven RJA petitions can expose sentencing disparities across counties.
📈 Use jurisdictional data.
📑 Anchor claims to § 745(b).
Read more below ⬇️
Stay informed on all RJA developments with the CA RJA Resource Hub (link in bio)
#RJA
“The goal of the Racial Justice Act is to root out racism in all its forms — including systemic racism.” – Prof. Jody Armour, USC
18 new filings may finally push California courts to apply that promise to sentencing
Read below ⬇️ and stay updated at the CA RJA Resource Hub (link in bio)
#RJA #PC745
One petitioner, John Crawford, is serving 45 years to life for attempted second-degree robbery.
His RJA filing argues Black defendants in L.A. County face sentences 36% longer than similarly charged white defendants.
Read more ⬇️
#RJA #SentencingDisparities #CaliforniaRacialJusticeAct #PC745
⚖️ Attorneys from Stanford Law’s Three Strikes Project & @NAACP_LDF filed 18 RJA petitions alleging racial disparities in CA sentencing.
In L.A. County, Black defendants are 13x more likely than white defendants to receive life sentences for attempted robbery.
Full story ⬇️
#RJA #CARJA #EqualJustice
18 California inmates seek resentencing under the Racial Justice Act
For the first time, petitions filed across 5 counties allege gross racial disparities in sentencing under Three Strikes.
No CA judge has yet granted relief under the RJA sentencing provisions — this filing could change that. #RJA
🧾 The ACLU suit frames data transparency as essential to enforcing Penal Code § 745.
‼️ By denying disclosure, the complaint argues, the DA “weakens the public’s ability to monitor prosecutorial practices.”
⬇️ Full story below ⬇️
#CARJA #RJA #PublicRecords #PC745 #CaliforniaRacialJusticeAct #AB256
Prosecutorial Discretion
⚖️ Who decides what counts as “fair”?
The ACLU says Santa Clara DA’s secrecy blocks public oversight of racial bias in charging.
The DA counters: disparities stem from systemic inequities, not prosecution.
#RJA #CAjustice #CaliforniaRacialJusticeAct
Full analysis below ⬇️
‼️Data Disparities
📊According to the ACLU complaint:
• Latino residents = 25 % of county pop. → 53 % of felony prosecutions
• Black residents = 2 % → 13 % of felony prosecutions
⚖️The lawsuit seeks full disclosure to assess whether these gaps violate the #RJA.
Full details below ⬇️
#CARJA #Equity
⚖️ ACLU v. Santa Clara DA
The ACLU of Northern CA has sued DA Jeff Rosen for allegedly withholding records that could expose racial disparities in felony charging.
The suit argues Rosen’s refusal “subverts the Racial Justice Act’s purpose.”
Full write-up below ⬇️
#CARJA #RJA #Transparency #AB256
📰 “The Racial Justice Act is a step forward — but not systemic change.”
Race Forward’s Alex Frank argues that California’s #RJA addresses individual bias but leaves structural inequities untouched.
Full article ⬇️
#CARJA #RacialJustice #CaliforniaRacialJusticeAct #AB2542 #AB256
Why We Needed the RJA
In McCleskey v. Kemp (1987), SCOTUS ruled that statistical proof of racial disparities was not enough.
You had to show intentional discrimination.
That decision shut the courthouse doors for decades. The RJA rejects and changes this impossible standard.
#CaliforniaRJA #RJA
📌 Practice Tips for RJA Litigators
✅ Challenge racialized use of music/creative works under § 745(a)
✅ Highlight prosecutorial framing in closing arguments
✅ Build appellate records challenging bias, even in older cases
More info & full text ⬇️
#CARJA #RacialJusticeAct #RJA #PC745 #SystemicBias
🕊️ Chavez was released July 23, 2025.
He met his daughter for the first time.
He is now advocating for reforms and credit organizing by Silicon Valley De-Bug and support from grassroots communities.
More info & full text ⬇️
#CARJA #RacialJusticeAct #RJA #PC745 #SystemicBias #CaliforniaRJA
📢 Defense Raised RJA Themes
Chavez’s team argued the prosecution weaponized racialized tropes—precisely what the CA Racial Justice Act (2020) seeks to prevent.
This case echoes § 745(a)(1) and (a)(2) principles: conviction influenced in part by race-based inference.
More info & full text ⬇️
#RJA
🧑🏽💼 Public Defender Damon Silver:
“Labels like ‘gangs’ tap into deep fears & histories. They risk injustice.”
He commended the DA’s choice to dismiss the charges rather than retry.
More info & full text: sanjosespotlight.com/santa-clara-...
#RacialJusticeAct #RJA #PC745 #SystemicBias #CaRJA #CARJA
🧑🏽⚖️ Appellate Court Ruling
The 6th District ruled the conviction prejudicial:
“It is reasonably probable the outcome… would have been more favorable to Chavez in the absence of the error.”
More info & full text below and at the CA RJA Hub (Link in Bio)
#RacialJusticeAct #RJA #PC745 #SystemicBias
🎤 Rap Lyrics as Evidence
The DA’s Office relied on a 2004 gang-themed rap Chavez helped record, but did not write or perform.
Lyrics were used in closing arguments to paint him as a gang member—even though the offenses occurred years later.
More info & full text below ⬇️
#RJA #PC745 #SystemicBias
📍Case Overview
Chavez spent 13 years in prison after being convicted of gang-related crimes in a case the DA retried multiple times.
However, in 2024, the 6th DCA reversed its decision, finding that the “extremely inflammatory” use of lyrics had biased the jury.
#RJA #PC745 #SystemicBias #CARJA
Santa Clara County Conviction Overturned Over Use of Rap Lyrics & Racial Bias Concerns
Hugo Chavez, sentenced to 105 years, is now free.
A CA appellate court reversed his conviction—citing prosecutorial prejudice and racialized use of rap lyrics.
More info & full text ⬇️
#RJA #PC745 #SystemicBias
⚖️ Prosecutorial Reply
Fresno County DA’s office opposes the RJA motion:
🔹 Argues no evidence of bias
🔹 Claims defense “opened the door” to cultural testimony
🔹 Asserts motion is untimely
More info & full text below
Visit the CA RJA Hub in bio
#DeathRow #RacialJusticeAct #RJA #DeathPenalty #PC745
“The prosecution elicited racially charged testimony… and urged jurors to impose death because of Mr. Stankewitz’s background,” the motion states.
Prosecutors linked cultural identity with future dangerousness.
More info below ⬇️
#RJA #EqualProtection #SystemicRacism #CARJA #DeathPenalty #PC745
Case Background
Stankewitz, of Native American heritage, was sentenced to death after a 1978 Fresno County trial. In his recent § 745 motion, he alleges the prosecution relied on racial stereotypes and removed the only Native juror.
#DeathRow #RJA #CARJA #DeathPenalty #PC745
More info & full text⬇️
📌Practice Tip for RJA Litigators:
If a former DA hears your RJA motion, consider:
✅ Asking for on-record disclosure of any prior involvement with your client
✅ Citing CJEO 2025-028 to frame your disqualification motion
More info & full text ⬇️
#RJA #PC745 #RacialJusticeAct #CARJA #JudicialEthics
Title/Header: “COMMUNITY VICTORY” (in bold white text on a red background). Main Text: Large bold text in the center reads: “AB 1071 (KALRA)” “The Racial Justice Act: Court Procedures” Below that, bold white text says: “SIGNED INTO LAW” Banner Section: A dark blue ribbon banner reads: “Co-Sponsors” Background Design: Decorative fireworks in various colors on a teal-blue background. Bottom Row (Co-Sponsor Logos): Logos of the supporting organizations: USF School of Law Ella Baker Center for Human Rights California Public Defenders Association California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP) Silicon Valley De-Bug CURB (Californians United for a Responsible Budget) Initiate Justice American Friends Service Committee Smart Justice California
Title/Header: “AB 1071 (KALRA)” Description Text: A paragraph explains the purpose of AB 1071, titled "The Racial Justice Act: Court Procedures" authored by Assemblymember Kalra. It states that the bill builds on the Racial Justice Act (RJA) by clarifying court procedures to ensure RJA claims are processed according to the original intent of the law. Progress Checklist: A list of 8 legislative steps with checkmarks (✔) for completed stages: ✔ Assembly Public Safety Committee Assembly Appropriations Committee (crossed out) ✔ Assembly Floor ✔ Senate Public Safety Committee ✔ Senate Appropriations Committee ✔ Senate Floor ✔ Assembly Concurrence ✔ Governor’s Signature Co-Sponsors Section: Label: “Co-Sponsors” Logos of the same organizations as in Image 1 are repeated along the bottom.
COMMUNITY VICTORY🎉❤️ AB 1071 HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW!
Thank you to this community and all of our co-sponsors for your relentless determination to build on and strengthen the Racial Justice Act. Thank you @cagovernornewsom.bsky.social for signing this vital legislation.
#RJA #RJA4All
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⚖️ When Must a Judge Recuse?
➡️ If the judge prosecuted the defendant in the same or related case
➡️ If the judge’s former role creates a reasonable doubt about impartiality
➡️ Even if not disqualified, mandatory disclosure applies
More info & full text ⬇️
#CAJudiciary #RJA #PC745 #RacialJusticeAct
🧑⚖️ Core Holding:
A judge is not automatically disqualified from hearing an RJA discovery motion just because they previously served as a prosecutor in other cases that may now be subject to RJA claims.
👇 Learn more below 👇
#CARJA #JudicialEthics #PC745 #CaliforniaRacialJusticeAct #RJA
