March 25, 2026
Court of Appeal, Fifth Appellate District
The Rule of People v. Chang is that imperfect self-defense is unavailable when a defendant's belief in the need for self-defense is based entirely on delusion without any objective correlate that could plausibly relate to a reasonable need for self-defense, under circumstances where the defendant shoots at peace officers based solely on delusional beliefs about CIA persecution without any objective threatening conduct by the officers.
March 5, 2026
Court of Appeal of the State of California, First Appellate District, Division One
The Rule of People v. Uceda is that a trial court must instruct sua sponte on grossly negligent discharge of a firearm (Penal Code § 246.3, subd.
February 26, 2026
Supreme Court of California
The Rule of People v. Morgan is that assault is not a lesser included offense of resisting an executive officer by use of force or violence under Penal Code section 69(a), under circumstances where the defendant's forceful resistance does not require a "present ability" to commit violent injury as required for assault.