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People v. Johnson

California Supreme Court
57 Cal.4th 250, 303 P.3d 379 (2013)

Written by Carolyn Strutton, JD

Facts

Corey Johnson, Joseph Dixon, and David Lee, Jr. (defendants) were all members of a large criminal street gang, and participated in various violent and drug-related crimes as members of the gang. Johnson, Dixon, and Lee were each charged and convicted of three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, and conspiracy, along with other charges. The conspiracy charges were each a single count arising from conspiracy to commit felony assault, robbery, murder, and gang participation. Johnson, Dixon, and Lee were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Upon appeal, the court of appeal held that conspiracy to actively participate in a criminal street gang was not a crime, but upheld the other underlying conspiracy crimes as valid. The attorney general filed a petition for review of this ruling, and the Supreme Court of California granted review.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Corrigan, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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