Miscellaneous Proceedings — California Penal Code — Disqualification Of Prosecuting Attorneys — Motion to disqualify district attorney or city attorney

15 Sep 2016

Current through the 2016 Legislative Session

(a)
(1) Notice of a motion to disqualify a district attorney from performing an authorized duty shall be served on the district attorney and the Attorney General at least 10 court days before the motion is heard. The notice of motion shall contain a statement of the facts setting forth the grounds for the claimed disqualification and the legal authorities relied upon by the moving party and shall be supported by affidavits of witnesses who are competent to testify to the facts set forth in the affidavit. The district attorney or the Attorney General, or both, may file affidavits in opposition to the motion and may appear at the hearing on the motion and may file with the court hearing the motion a written opinion on the disqualification issue. The judge shall review the affidavits and determine whether or not an evidentiary hearing is necessary. The motion may not be granted unless the evidence shows that a conflict of interest exists that would render it unlikely that the defendant would receive a fair trial. An order recusing the district attorney from any proceeding may be reviewed by extraordinary writ or may be appealed by the district attorney or the Attorney General. The order recusing the district attorney shall be stayed pending any review authorized by this section. If the motion is brought at or before the preliminary hearing, it may not be renewed in the trial court on the basis of facts that were raised or could have been raised at the time of the original motion.
(2) An appeal from an order of recusal or from a case involving a charge punishable as a felony shall be made pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1235) of Title 9, regardless of the court in which the order is made. An appeal from an order of recusal in a misdemeanor case shall be made pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1466) of Title 11, regardless of the court in which the order is made.
(b)
(1) Notice of a motion to disqualify a city attorney from performing an authorized duty involving a criminal matter shall be served on the city attorney and the district attorney at least 10 court days before the motion is heard. The notice of motion shall set forth a statement of the facts relevant to the claimed disqualification and the legal authorities relied on by the moving party. The district attorney may appear at the hearing on the motion and may file with the court hearing the motion a written opinion on the disqualification issue. The motion may not be granted unless the evidence shows that a conflict of interest exists that would render it unlikely that the defendant would receive a fair trial.
(2) An order recusing the city attorney from a proceeding may be appealed by the city attorney or the district attorney. The order recusing the city attorney shall be stayed pending an appeal authorized by this section. An appeal from an order of disqualification in a misdemeanor case shall be made pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 1466) of Title 11.
(c) Motions to disqualify the city attorney and the district attorney shall be separately made.
Ca. Pen. Code § 1424
EFFECTIVE 1/1/2000. Amended September 7, 1999 (Bill Number: AB 154) (Chapter 363).