In Re Bateman

California Court of Appeal Nov 1, 1928 No. Docket No. 1701.Published

Before: Craig

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Holding. A criminal sentence must be orally pronounced by the court in the defendant's presence to be valid; written notations made by a judge on a complaint do not constitute a legally binding part of the judgment.

Issues

Whether a judge's written notation on a complaint constitutes a valid part of a criminal sentence if not orally pronounced.
Whether habeas corpus is the appropriate remedy for a defendant challenging an unauthorized commitment based on an unpronounced sentence.

Disposition. Writ granted; petitioner discharged.

Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion

“To “pronounce” always implies uttering, speaking, orally declaring that which is pronounced.”

“We conclude that in this instance the only sentence which was given was that which was pronounced orally, and that the words written by the judge, “or 180 days,” form no part of this judgment.”

CRAIG, J.

The petitioner seeks his liberty through a writ of

habeas corpus.

In a police court of the city of Bakersfield he was charged with unlawful possession of intoxicating liquor, and on June 27, 1928, he pleaded

[640]

guilty to said charges and waived time for sentence. The allegations of the petition as to what was said and done by the police judge at that time being controverted by the return to this court, evidence was received in that behalf. Upon that issue we find that the judge orally rendered and pronounced judgment and sentence that the defendant pay a fine in the latter’s presence, but did not state to him that he be confined in the county jail in the event that such fine be not paid. However, the judge did then write upon the complaint, “or 180 days,” and two days later the judge wrote on the complaint, “given to 'July 3rd to get the fine.”

Respondent interposes a preliminary objection that petitioner has mistaken his remedy, and that even though the facts be as claimed by him, he may secure relief by appeal, and not otherwise. We have no doubt that if petitioner’s contention is sound as to the main legal issue involved, his only speedy and adequate remedy is through a writ of

habeas corpus.

The issue presented resolves itself into this: Are the words, “or 180 days,” written by the police judge at the time of pronouncing sentence in open court, legally a part of the judgment? If so, of course, since it is undisputed that the fine has not been paid, the imprisonment is regular and lawful. If not, the commitment is unauthorized and the petitioner’s imprisonment is illegal.

It is most seriously argued that since, if the conviction be of a misdemeanor, section 1193 of the Penal Code permits judgment to be pronounced in the absence of the defendant, the sentence may be written by the court and need not be stated orally. But we think that in so far as the question here involved is concerned the controlling word in the above section is “pronounced.” The only decision which we have been able to find bearing upon the subject suggesting a judicial definition of the word “pronounce” is

In Re Bateman

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CRAIG, J.

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