Disposition notice
On November 6, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California issued an order in this death penalty federal habeas case after the Governor of California announced on November 5, 2026, a decision to commute all California death sentences to life without the possibility of parole. The court noted the Governor's clemency authority under article V, section 8(a) of the California Constitution, including the limitation on clemency for a person twice convicted of a felony absent a recommendation of the California Supreme Court with four judges concurring. In light of the Governor's letter, the court directed the parties to confer and file a joint status report no later than November 19, 2026, addressing what impact the development has on (1) the pending federal habeas petition and (2) the continued appointment and current and/or future funding of counsel for Petitioner under 18 U.S.C. § 3599 and 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. The order was signed by Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia, United States District Judge.