People v. Robarge, 262 P.2d 14 (Cal. 1953). · Go Syfert
People v. Robarge, 262 P.2d 14 (Cal. 1953). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
295 citation events (91 in the last 25 years) across 6 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: People v. Hepburn-Martin CA6 (calctapp, 2026-02-13)
Treatment trajectory · 1953 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1953 1989 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Hepburn-Martin CA6 (2×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 2026 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 (Robarge) [“It has been stated that a defendant is entitled to two decisions on the evidence, one by the jury and the other by the court on motion for a new trial”].) If the court is not convinced that the charges have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, it may rule that the jury’s verdict is “ ‘contrary to [the] ... evidence’ ” within the meaning of section 1181, subdivision 6. ( Porter, supra, at p. 133 .) In doing so, the judge acts as a 13th juror who is a “holdout” for acquittal.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Stephens CA2/5 (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Cal. Ct. App. · 2024 · confidence medium
(Robarge, supra, 41 Cal.2d at 634 [trial court made remarks demonstrating it disbelieved witness testimony and entertained serious doubts as to identification of defendant]; Carter, supra, 227 Cal.App.4th at 326, 328 [trial court stated it would have weighed the evidence differently than the jury, and found defendant’s alibi evidence credible].) In Watts, supra, at 113 the court repeatedly stated it could not reweigh the evidence, and said it was not its place to second guess the jury.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Hilliard CA4/2
Cal. Ct. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
(See People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633-634 [remanding to trial court to exercise its discretion in deciding the merits of the defendant’s motion for new trial, where the trial court had applied wrong legal standard in denying the motion]; People v. Deloza (1998) 18 Cal.4th 585, 600 [remand for the trial court to exercise its discretion at resentencing where “the trial court misunderstood the scope of its discretion to impose concurrent sentences for defendant’s current convictions, and erroneously believed consecutive sentences were mandatory”]; see also Fassberg Construction…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Roots CA3
Cal. Ct. App. · 2022 · confidence medium
Instead, it independently examines all the evidence to determine whether it is sufficient to prove each required element beyond a reasonable doubt to the judge . . . .” (Porter v. Superior Court (2009) 47 Cal.4th 125, 133 , original italics.) Thus, “[w]hen a trial court rules on a motion for new trial based upon inadequacy of the evidence, it is vested with a plenary power—and burdened with a correlative duty—to independently evaluate the evidence.” (Ryan v. Crown Castle NG Networks, Inc. (2016) 6 Cal.App.5th 775, 784 .) When independently weighing the evidence, the trial court is �…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Byrket CA5
Cal. Ct. App. · 2021 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 634 [reversal and remand required where record reflected trial court felt bound by jury’s verdict and “failed to give [the] defendant the benefit of its independent conclusion as to the sufficiency of credible evidence to support the verdict”]; People v. Watts (2018) 22 Cal.App.5th 102, 115 [reversal and remand required where “the trial court did not articulate the correct standard of review, failed to act as a 13th juror to review and independently evaluate the evidence, and failed to give [the defendant] the benefit of its independent assessme…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Koenig
Cal. Ct. App. · 2020 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 (Robarge).) Here, the trial court stated that it evaluated “whether the defendant got a fair trial; whether the evidence that was submitted was lawful; and whether, if believed, it was sufficient to justify conviction.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Ryan v. Crown Castle NG Networks, Inc.
Cal. Ct. App. · 2016 · confidence medium
That case in turn relied on People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ], and Dominguez v. Pantalone (1989) 212 Cal.App.3d 201, 215 [ 260 Cal.Rptr. 431 ] (Dominguez), which relied on the same criminal decision.
cited Cited as authority (rule) People v. Lartigue CA2/2
Cal. Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
Citing Carter and People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 635 (Robarge), Lartigue advocates a rule of reversal per se.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Spicer
Cal. Ct. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
“In reviewing a motion for a new trial, the trial court must weigh the evidence independently . . . guided by a presumption in favor of the correctness of the verdict and proceedings supporting it. [Citation.] The trial court ‘should [not] disregard the verdict . . . but instead . . . should consider the proper weight to be accorded to the evidence and then decide whether or not, in its opinion, there is sufficient credible evidence to support the verdict.’ ” (People v. Davis (1995) 10 Cal.4th 463, 523-524 [ 41 Cal.Rptr.2d 826 , 896 R2d 119], citation omitted, quoting People v. Robarge…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Parker CA3
Cal. Ct. App. · 2014 · confidence medium
And that’s something uniquely that the jury is equipped to do. [¶] So the Court is going to deny that motion based upon that as well.” On appeal, defendant claims the trial court abdicated its responsibility to reweigh the evidence independently. (§ 1181, subparagraph (6) [trial court may grant new trial “[w]hen the verdict or finding is contrary to law or evidence]; People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 (Robarge) [trial court should decide whether or not, in its opinion, there is sufficient credible evidence].) Robarge stated: “While it is the exclusive province of the jury to…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Carter (2×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 2014 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ] [“It has been stated that a defendant is entitled to two decisions on the evidence, one by the jury and the other by the court on motion for a new trial.”].) If the court is not convinced that the charges have been proved beyond a reasonable doubt, it may rule that the jury’s verdict is “ ‘contrary to [the] . . . evidence’ ” within the meaning of section 1181, subdivision 6.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Barrese v. Murray
Cal. Ct. App. · 2011 · confidence medium
(Richards v. CH2M Hill, Inc. (2001) 26 Cal.4th 798, 824-825 [ 111 Cal.Rptr.2d 87 , 29 P.3d 175 ); Krouse v. Graham (1977) 19 Cal.3d 59, 83 [ 137 Cal.Rptr. 863 , 562 P.2d 1022 ]; People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 635 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) It is also no small matter that the Court of Appeal has followed the same practice in a number of cases.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Porter v. Superior Court
Cal. Ct. App. · 2007 · confidence medium
Under California law, a trial court reviewing a motion for a new trial is "guided by a presumption in favor of the correctness of the verdict and proceedings supporting it. ( People v. Martin (1970) 2 Cal.3d 822, 832 [, 87 Cal.Rptr. 709 , 471 P.2d 29 ]....)" ( People v. Davis (1995) 10 Cal.4th 463, 524 , 41 Cal.Rptr.2d 826 , 896 P.2d 119 .) "The trial court `should [not] disregard the verdict ... but instead ... should consider the proper weight to be accorded to the evidence and then decide whether or not, in its opinion, there is sufficient credible evidence to support the verdict.' ( People…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Lewis
Cal. · 2006 · confidence medium
Relying on People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ], Oliver claims the court failed to reach an “independent conclusion as to the sufficiency of credible evidence to support the verdict.” *1063 The claim lacks merit.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Dickens
Cal. Ct. App. · 2005 · confidence medium
In deciding such a motion, the trial court’s function is to “see that the jury intelligently and justly perform[ed] its duty and, in the exercise of a proper legal discretion, to determine whether there is sufficient credible evidence to sustain the verdict.” (People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ] (Robarge).) The trial court’s duty is to review the evidence independently and satisfy itself that the evidence as a whole is sufficient to sustain the verdict.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Moreda
Cal. Ct. App. · 2004 · confidence medium
(See People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633-634 [262 *514 P.2d 14]; People v. Serrato (1973) 9 Cal.3d 753, 761 [ 109 Cal.Rptr. 65 , 512 P.2d 289 ] disapproved on other grounds in People v. Fosselman (1983) 33 Cal.3d 572 , 583 [ 189 Cal.Rptr. 855 , 659 P.2d 1144 ]; People v. Redmond (1969) 71 Cal.2d 745, 759-760 [ 79 Cal.Rptr. 529 , 457 P.2d 321 ].) Moreda maintains that only the trial judge who presides at trial and sees the witnesses and hears their testimony can competently discharge the obligation to independently weigh the evidence and determine whether there is sufficient credible ev…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Johnston
Cal. Ct. App. · 2003 · confidence medium
(See People v. Robarge, supra, 41 Cal.2d at p. 633 [trial court order denying new trial reversed because that court erroneously considered itself bound to defer to jury fact determination].) Whether the trial court in this case exercised its discretion in reweighing the evidence, or ruled as a matter of law, or did both, requires a discussion of its statements at the new trial hearing and in its subsequent memorandum.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Vang
Cal. Ct. App. · 2001 · confidence medium
The order denying the motions for new trial is vacated, and the matter is remanded for a limited rehearing of the motions in accordance with the rule announced in People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ], and reaffirmed in People v. Davis (1995) 10 Cal.4th 463, 524 [ 41 Cal.Rptr.2d 826 , 896 P.2d 119 ].
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Davis
Cal. · 1995 · confidence medium
(People v. Martin (1970) 2 Cal.3d 822, 832 [ 87 Cal.Rptr. 709 , 471 P.2d 29 ].) The trial court “should [not] disregard the verdict . . . but instead . . . should consider the proper weight to be accorded to the evidence and then decide whether or not, in its opinion, there is sufficient credible evidence to support the verdict.” (People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) A trial court has broad discretion in ruling on a motion for a new trial, and there is a strong presumption that it properly exercised that discretion. “ ‘The determination of a motion for a new tr…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kelly-Zurian v. Wohl Shoe Co.
Cal. Ct. App. · 1994 · confidence medium
(Locksley v. Ungureanu (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 457, 463 [ 223 Cal.Rptr. 737 ].) “While it is the exclusive province of the jury to find the facts, it is the duty of the trial court to see that this function is intelligently and justly performed, and in the exercise of its supervisory power over the verdict, the court, on motion for a new trial, should consider the probative force of the evidence and satisfy itself that the evidence as a whole is sufficient to sustain the verdict.” (People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) In ruling on the motion, the trial judge does not…
examined Cited as authority (rule) People v. Taylor (6×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1993 · confidence medium
This does not mean, however, that the court should disregard the verdict or that it should decide what result it would have reached if the case had been tried without a jury, but instead that it should consider the proper weight to be accorded to the evidence and then decide whether or not, in its opinion, there is sufficient credible evidence to support the verdict. . . . [U] In passing upon a motion for a new trial the judge has very broad discretion and is not bound by conflicts in the evidence, and reviewing courts are reluctant to interfere with a decision granting or denying such a motio…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Dominguez v. Pantalone
Cal. Ct. App. · 1989 · confidence medium
II Denial of Motion for New Trial Appellant claims that the trial court misconceived its duty and erroneously denied her motion for new trial on the ground of insufficiency of the evidence because it felt bound by the jury’s verdict even though “the trial court independently weighed the evidence and concluded the jury clearly should have reached a different result . . . .” “When a trial court rules upon a motion for a new trial made upon the ground of insufficiency of the evidence, the judge is required to weigh the evidence and judge the credibility of witnesses.” (Locksley v. Ungur…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Morales (2×)
Cal. · 1989 · confidence medium
In deciding whether to set aside a verdict or finding on motion for new trial, the trial court “has very broad discretion and is not bound by conflicts in the evidence, and reviewing courts are reluctant to interfere with [its] decision . . . unless there is a clear showing of an abuse of discretion.” (People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) In this case the trial court plainly acted within the broad scope of its discretion and cannot be shown to have committed any abuse.
cited Cited as authority (rule) People v. Simon
Cal. Ct. App. · 1989 · confidence medium
We find that the trial court acted within its broad discretion (People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]) in denying appellant’s motion for new trial. *849 2.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Trevino (2×)
Cal. · 1985 · confidence medium
When the verdict or finding is contrary to law or evidence “In ruling upon a motion for a new trial, the trial court is required to independently weigh the evidence, but an appellate court will not modify or set aside the verdict if there is any substantial evidence to support it.” (Id., at p. 761.) The trial court’s role is essentially that of the “13th juror” (see People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633-634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]), except insofar as it concludes that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Trotter
Cal. Ct. App. · 1984 · confidence medium
“It has been stated that a defendant is entitled to two decisions on the evidence, one by the jury and the other by the court on motion for a new trial. [Citations.] This does not mean, however, that the court should disregard the verdict or that it should decide what result it would have reached if the case had been tried without a jury, but instead that it should consider the proper weight to be accorded to the evidence and then decide whether or not, in its opinion, there is sufficient credible evidence to support the verdict.” (People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Capps
Cal. Ct. App. · 1984 · confidence medium
Proc., § 657, subd. 6) 3 or criminal (§ 1181, subd. 6) 4 case, the trial court must independently weigh the evidence and assess whether it sufficiently supports the jury’s verdict. 5 (Civil cases: Green v. Soule (1904) 145 Cal. 96, 102-103 [ 78 P. 337 ]; Lippold v. Hart (1969) 274 Cal.App.2d 24, 25-26 [ 78 Cal.Rptr. 833 ]; 5 Witkin, Cal. Procedure (2d ed. 1971) Attack on Judgment in Trial Court, § 35; criminal cases: People v. Serrato (1973) 9 Cal.3d 753, 761 [ 109 Cal.Rptr. 65 , 512 P.2d 289 ], disapproved on other grounds in People v. Fosselman (1983) 33 Cal.3d 572, 583, fn. 1 [ 189 Cal…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Watson (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Cal. Ct. App. · 1983 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]; People v. Cartwright (1979) 98 Cal.App.3d 369, 381 [ 159 Cal.Rptr. 543 ].) “This does not mean, however, that the court should disregard the verdict or that it should decide what result it would have reached if the case had been tried without a jury,. . .” (Robarge, at p. 633.) The jury is the exclusive finder of fact and the trial court’s only duty is to see that this function is intelligently and justly performed.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Mooring
Cal. Ct. App. · 1982 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) A judgment supported by the testimony of a witness who has not been discredited and whose testimony is not inherently improbable will be affirmed.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Scott (2×)
Cal. Ct. App. · 1982 · confidence medium
Code, §§ 1168, 1191, 1193, 1200, 1202, 1207 and 1213.) The time limits provided for in the sections just cited shall run from the filing of the remittitur in the superior court." ( People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 635 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) [8] A petition for a rehearing was denied March 23, 1982, and appellant's petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied June 9, 1982.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Veitch
Cal. Ct. App. · 1982 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 634 [ 262 p.2d 14 ]; People v. Edgmon (1968) 267 Cal.App.2d 759, 766 [ 73 Cal.Rptr. 634 ].) But it is clear that the California trial judge acts as a “'13th juror’” as the term is used by the *468 United States Supreme Court in Hudson , since the trial judge independently weighs the evidence, rather than applying the substantial evidence rule and determining legal sufficiency.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Cartwright
Cal. Ct. App. · 1979 · confidence medium
“While it is the exclusive province of the jury to find the facts, it is the duty of the trial court to see that this function is intelligently and justly performed, and in the exercise of its supervisory power over the verdict, the court, on motion for a new trial, should consider the probative force of the evidence and satisfy itself that the evidence as a whole is sufficient to sustain the verdict. [Citations omitted.] It has been stated that a defendant is entitled to two decisions on the evidence, one by the jury and the other by the court on motion for a new trial. [Citations omitted.]…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Veitch v. Superior Court
Cal. Ct. App. · 1979 · confidence medium
The People do not so concede; rather, they argue that an appeal from the order granting a new trial, given the wide latitude allowed to trial courts on such a motion, would have been futile, since reviewing courts are reluctant to interfere with a decision granting a motion for new trial unless there is a clear showing of an abuse of discretion (see People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]). 6 In their opposition to petitioner’s motions in the trial court and in these appellate proceedings, the People have continued to assert that the verdict of the jury was supported by s…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Montgomery
Cal. Ct. App. · 1976 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]; People v. Sarazzawski (1945) 27 Cal.2d 7, 16 [ 161 P.2d 934 ]; People v. Perlin (1928) 203 Cal. 587, 596 [ 265 P. 230 ]; People v. Roubus (1966) 65 Cal.2d 218, 220-221 [ 53 Cal.Rptr. 281 , 417 P.2d 865 ].) The court granted the new trial under Penal Code section 1181, subdivisions 5 and 6.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Oliver
Cal. Ct. App. · 1975 · confidence medium
As stated in People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]: “In passing upon a motion for a new trial the judge has a very broad discretion and is not bound by conflicts in the evidence, and reviewing courts are reluctant to interfere with a decision granting or denying such a motion unless there is a clear showing of an abuse of discretion.” No abuse of discretion has been shown in this case.
cited Cited as authority (rule) People v. Marchialette
Cal. Ct. App. · 1975 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]) which is not shown here.
cited Cited as authority (rule) People v. Davis
Cal. Ct. App. · 1973 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) We find no abuse of discretion here.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Barajas v. Superior Court
Cal. Ct. App. · 1970 · confidence medium
(Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752, 766 [ 23 L.Ed.2d 685, 695 , 89 S.Ct. 2034 ].) However, unless the record makes the assumption preposterous (People v. Russel, 69 Cal.2d 187, 190-200 [ 70 Cal.Rptr. 210 , 443 P.2d 794 ]; People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 633-634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]) we must assume that the magistrate applied correct legal principles to his rulings.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Martin
Cal. · 1970 · confidence medium
(Cf. People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ], and cases there cited.) Clearly a quite different attitude is required when the court undertakes to determine and assess “preliminary” or “foundational” facts upon which the admissibility of evidence depends.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Clemens v. Regents of the University of California
Cal. Ct. App. · 1970 · confidence medium
(See People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 635 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]; People v. Hutchinson, 71 Cal.2d 342, 351 [ 78 Cal.Rptr. 196 , 455 P.2d 132 ].) A determination to remand the matter to the trial court for rehearing of the motion for new trial raises an additional problem.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Moore v. City & County of San Francisco
Cal. Ct. App. · 1970 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633-634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]; Lippold v. Hart (1969) 274 Cal.App.2d 24, 26 [ 78 Cal.Rptr. 833 ] and cases cited.) While it may be urged that the order granting the new trial should be clarified by the trial court, in view of the determinations herein, and restricted to its assigned reasons for granting it, and denying that as to the individual defendants, the trial court has lost all jurisdiction to do so.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Harris
Cal. Ct. App. · 1970 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 633-634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) As far as the assertion of a conflict of interest is concerned—a contention in which Anthony may join at the motion for a new trial—the trial court will not be restricted to the narrow record that is before this court, but may consider affidavits and, *925 in its discretion, oral testimony.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Russell v. Nelson
Cal. Ct. App. · 1969 · confidence medium
(See People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].)” The question on review is not whether there was substantial evidence to support the jury’s verdict (as it would be on appeal from a judgment entered on the verdict), but whether the record supports the trial court’s determination, after weighing all the evidence, the jury clearly should have reached a different verdict.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Lopez
Cal. Ct. App. · 1969 · confidence medium
The thirteenth juror rule has been discredited; on a motion for *85 a new trial the judge must weigh the evidence and exercise an independent judgment (People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Redmond (2×)
Cal. · 1969 · confidence medium
(People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ]; see Witkin, Cal. Criminal Procedure, supra, pp. 574-575.) It is obvious that defendant should have made his-motion on the ground of sufficiency of evidence.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Risenhoover (2×)
Cal. · 1968 · confidence medium
At the outset the trial court stated that it had reviewed the authorities submitted by the defense, and those authorities included decisions such as People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ], which clearly sets forth the trial court’s duty in passing on a motion for a new trial.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Edgmon
Cal. Ct. App. · 1968 · confidence medium
While it is incorrect to speak of the judge as being a thirteenth juror (since he does not deliberate with the jury), he is required when a new trial motion is made to weigh the evidence independently (which a reviewing court may not do). *767 (People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ] ; and see cases generally cited in Witldn, Cal. Criminal Procedure (1963) Judgment and Attack in Trial Court, § 566, pp. 574-575.) The judge’s power to modify the judgment by reducing the offense or degree has already been mentioned.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Mercer v. Perez
Cal. · 1968 · confidence medium
(See People v. Robarge (1953) 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) We are not unmindful of the circumstance that two prior attempts to amend section 657, both pocket-vetoed by the Governor, would have required the trial judge to ‘ ‘ specify . . . the respects ’ ’ in which the evidence was insufficient (S.B. 893, 1961 Sess.) or to "state with particularity ’’ why it was not substantial (S.B. 765, 1963 Sess.).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Moore
Cal. Ct. App. · 1968 · confidence medium
(Ibid., p. 734.) (See also People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 633 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) 9 See also People v. Aubrey, 253 Cal.App.2d 912, 919 [ 61 Cal.Rptr. 772 ] : “What the Conley opinion teaches is that there is a type of voluntary manslaughter which does not come within any of the three definitions found in Penal Code, section 192.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Worms v. Worms
Cal. Ct. App. · 1967 · confidence medium
(Cf. People v. Robarge, 41 Cal.2d 628, 634 [ 262 P.2d 14 ].) Our function, however, is not merely negative.
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
The PEOPLE, Respondent,
v.
WILFRED WELLS ROBARGE, Appellant
Crim. 5467.
California Supreme Court.
Oct 23, 1953.
262 P.2d 14
1953 Cal. LEXIS 311
Wilfred Wells Kobarge, in pro. per., and Albert Garber, under appointment by the Supreme Court, for Appellant,, Edmund G. Brown, Attorney General, and William E. James, Deputy Attorney General, for Respondent.
Gibson, Carter, Shenk, Edmonds, Traynor, Schauer, Spence.
Cited by 130 opinions  |  Published

Lead Opinion

GIBSON, C. J.

Defendant, who admitted three prior felony convictions, was found guilty by a jury of robbery in the first degree. He appeals from the judgment and from an order denying his motion for a new trial, contending that the evidence is insufficient to support the .verdict; that the district attorney was guilty of prejudicial misconduct; that his constitutional rights were violated by the police when, before trial, a pair of dark glasses was placed over his eyes at the suggestion of a witness who had been asked to identify him; and that the court misconceived its duty in passing on the motion for a new trial.

About 3 o’clock in the morning of March 5, 1951, the Clock Drive-In restaurant located in the county of Los Angeles was robbed by two men. One of the men entered the office of the restaurant, where the manager and the cook were checking the day’s receipts, and announced, “This is a stick-up.” With a gun in his hand he ordered the manager to open the safe and then directed him and the cook to lie down on the floor. The other robber, who was wearing a hat and dark glasses, met Manus, a dishwasher, as he was leaving the kitchen for the washroom, pointed a gun at him and ordered him to move to a place near the office door. This robber then saw Muldrow, the janitor, coming down the hallway and, after some exchange of words, forced him to join Manus. Muldrow and Manus were “backed” into the office and forced to lie on the floor with the cook and the manager. The robbers took $3,300, tore the telephone from the wall, and turned off the lights.

The cook and the manager, because of their positions on the floor, were unable to see the man who forced Manus and Muldrow to enter the restaurant office. The prosecution claims that this man, who will hereafter he referred to as “the robber,” was defendant. Six weeks after the robbery Muldrow saw defendant at a police station and was asked by the officers if he could identify him. Muldrow answered that[*631] if tbe man would put some glasses on, he “could tell more about him.” The police officers placed a pair of dark glasses on defendant, and Muldrow then identified him as the robber. At the trial Muldrow testified that he had a “good look” at the robber in the hallway, and he was positive that defendant was the same man. Manus testified that defendant’s features resembled those of the robber and that defendant appeared to be about the same height, but that he could not state positively that defendant was the robber.

Although defendant did not take the stand, there was testimony on his behalf that he was several miles away from the scene of the crime at the time the robbery was committed. A witness named Buttrey testified that he saw defendant that night at a place called Top’s Café which was located approximately 10 miles from the Clock Drive-In. He said that defendant entered Top’s Café about a quarter of 2, stayed 20 or 30 minutes and left alone. Defendant’s former wife testified that at 20 minutes past 2 he picked her up at the place where she was working near Top’s Café and drove her to her mother’s home. She said that they parked in front of the house and stayed in the ear from 2:30 until 4 o’clock. Her mother testified that she saw them there, recognized defendant, and waited for her daughter to come in.

Defendant contends that the testimony of Muldrow was inherently improbable and that, therefore, there was merely an apparent conflict in the evidence which should not be resolved in favor of the verdict. When questioned at the preliminary hearing, Muldrow demonstrated by a gesture that the robber was a certain height, and according to statements in the record the height indicated was about 4 feet. At the trial Muldrow stated that the robber was about 5 feet 4 inches tall, and when asked to estimate the height of defendant, who of course was in the courtroom, he said, “Well, I would say he is five feet four.” Defendant relies on the fact that the record shows that his height is about 5 feet 11 inches. Muldrow, however, in referring to the heights of defendant and the robber, used the identical figures of 5 feet 4 inches, and the jury may reasonably have concluded that he was confused by figures and did not know how to estimate the height of a person in feet and inches. Although his testimony is unclear and inconsistent in some respects, he made an unequivocal identification of defendant as the robber, and his testimony was corroborated to some extent by that of Manus, who testified that defendant was about the same height as[*632] the robber, had similar features and looked like him. We cannot say as a matter of law that the evidence is insufficient to support the judgment.

The asserted misconduct of the district attorney occurred during the examination of the witness Buttrey and consisted of asking questions the purpose of which, according to defendant, was to implant in the minds of the jurors the idea that defendant’s brother was the other participant in the crime. As we have seen, Buttrey testified that he saw defendant at Top’s Café on the night the robbery was committed. On cross-examination the district attorney asked him who was with defendant at the café. Buttrey answered that the defendant and his brother, Jimmy, came together and that Jimmy remained at the café after defendant left. The district attorney also questioned the witness as follows: “Q. When did you first hear that the Clock Cafe down on Atlantic Boulevard by Florence had been stuck up? A. At the time that the two boys were picked up; shortly after that, when they were missing. Q. That was long about the latter part of April? A. That’s right. Q. And you didn’t hear about this stick up or hold up at the Clock Cafe until after you heard that the boys had been arrested. A. That’s right.” No objection was made to any of the questions, and no motion was made to strike any of the answers.

The prosecution was entitled to explore defendant’s alibi and to question the witness with respect to the persons who were in the café at the time he said defendant was there. There is nothing in the record to indicate that, when the district attorney asked the witness concerning the time he first learned of the robbery, the answer would bring before the jury the fact that defendant’s brother had been arrested with him. Under the circumstances, we find no misconduct on the part of the district attorney.

Defendant further contends that the action of the police in placing dark glasses on him at the time he was identified by Muldrow at the police station was in violation of his constitutional rights. In this connection it may be noted in passing that defendant made no objection to Mul-drow ’s testimony upon the ground that his identification might be based in part upon what occurred at the police station. Defendant relies solely on Rochin v. California (1952), 342 U.S. 165 [72 S.Ct. 205, 96 L.Ed. 183, 25 A.L.R.2d 1396], in support of his contention that he was deprived of his constitutional rights. That case was extensively reviewed[*633] in People v. Haeussler, ante, pp. 252, 255 et seq., where this court stated at page 259 [260 P.2d 8] : “In brief, the Rochin case holds that brutal or shocking force exerted to acquire evidence renders void a conviction based wholly or in part upon the use of such evidence.” In the present case there is no evidence whatsoever of brutality or shocking conduct. In fact, there is nothing to show that force was used when the glasses were placed upon defendant, and, for all that appears, he may have consented to what was done.

The final contention of defendant is that the trial court misinterpreted its duty and erroneously denied his motion for a new trial solely because it felt bound by the jury’s decision on the evidence. While it is the exclusive province of the jury to find the facts, it is the duty of the trial court to see that this function is intelligently and justly performed, and in the exercise of its supervisory power over the verdict, the court, on motion for a new trial, should consider the probative force of the evidence and satisfy itself that the evidence as a whole is sufficient to sustain the verdict. (People v. Knutte, 111 Cal. 453, 455 [44 P. 166] ; People v. Lum Yit, 83 Cal. 130, 133-134 [23 P. 228] ; Estate of Bainbridge, 169 Cal. 166, 168-170 [146 P. 427].) It has been stated that a defendant is entitled to two decisions on the evidence, one by the jury and the other by the court on motion for a new trial. (People v. Sarazzawski, 27 Cal.2d 7, 15-16 [161 P.2d 934] ; People v. Cesena, 18 Cal.App.2d 727, 729 [64 P.2d 732].) This does not mean, however, that the court should disregard the verdict or that it should decide what result it would have reached if the case had been tried without a jury, but instead that it should consider the proper weight to be accorded to the evidence and then decide whether or not, in its opinion, there is sufficient credible evidence to support the verdict. (Estate of Bainbridge, 169 Cal. 166, 168-170 [146 P. 427] ; Green v. Soule, 145 Cal. 96, 103 [78 P. 337] ; People v. Richard, 101 Cal.App.2d 631, 633-634 [225 P.2d 938] ; People v. Mallicoat, 27 Cal.App. 355, 358 [149 P. 1000].)

In passing upon a motion for a new trial the judge has very broad discretion and is not bound by conflicts in the evidence, and reviewing courts are reluctant to interfere with a decision granting or denying such a motion unless there is a clear showing of an abuse of discretion. In the present case it clearly appears that the trial court misconceived its duty under the foregoing authorities and, for that reason,[*634] failed to give defendant tbe benefit of a proper review of the evidence. In ruling on the motion the court stated that it was mindful of “the rule that the jury are the sole judges of the credibility of the witnesses. It adheres to that rule to the extent that even though the Court disbelieves what the witnesses may have said, if there is sufficient evidence upon which the jury may base their decision, even though the Court sits as a thirteenth juror, it is not in a position to upset the verdict of the jury.”

The statement by the trial judge that “the Court sits as a thirteenth juror” has an unfortunate connotation; the phrase is misleading, and it does not properly describe the function of the trial judge in passing upon a motion for a new trial. As we have seen, it is the province of the trial judge to see that the jury intelligently and justly performs its duty and, in the exercise of a proper legal discretion, to determine whether there is sufficient credible evidence to sustain the verdict.

After reviewing the testimony of Muldrow, who was the only witness to identify defendant positively, the trial court said that there were inconsistencies that “were awfully hard for the Court ... to believe.” It compared his testimony with that of Manus, who had the same opportunity as Muldrow but was not able to identify defendant as the robber, and pointed out that Manus was a much better witness than Muldrow. The court then stated that “Those are the things that were given to the jury and the jury, under the instructions of the Court and under the law, [were] the sole judges of the credibility of witnesses and the determiners of the facts. If there is any evidence upon which they have the right to base their conclusion, this Court is not in a position where it could upset it. ’ ’ Other remarks show clearly that the trial court disbelieved much of Muldrow ⅛ testimony and entertained serious doubts as to the validity of his identification of defendant, but the court nevertheless .indicated at least three times that it was bound by. the contrary conclusion of the jury. It is therefore evident that the trial court failed to give defendant the benefit of its independent conclusion as to the sufficiency of credible evidence to support the verdict. (See People v. Sarazzawski, 27 Cal.2d 7,15-16 [161 P.2d 934] ; People v. Navarro, 74 Cal.App.2d 544, 553-555 [169 P.2d 265] ; People v. Bacos, 14 Cal.App.2d 338, 348-349 [58 P.2d 221] ; cf. People v. Richard, 101 Cal.App.2d 631, 633-634 [225 P.2d 938].)

[*635] The judgment and the order denying the motion for a new trial are vacated with directions to again hear and determine the motion for a new trial in accordance with the rules herein-above stated. If the trial court determines that a new trial should be granted, defendant will be entitled to a trial on the merits, but if it is determined that the new trial should be denied, then the trial court shall again pronounce judgment upon defendant. (See Pen. Code, §§ 1168, 1191, 1193, 1200, 1202, 1207 and 1213.) The time limits provided for in the sections just cited shall run from the filing of the remittitur in the superior court.

Shenk, J., Edmonds, J., Traynor, J., Schauer, J., and Spence, J., concurred.

Concurrence

CARTER, J.

I concur in the conclusion reached in the majority opinion and generally in the reasoning upon which it is based. I do not, however, concur in the implication that People v. Haeussler, ante, p. 252 [260 P.2d 8], is distinguishable from Rochin v. California, 342 U.S. 165 [72 S.Ct. 205, 96 L.Ed. 183, 25 A.L.R.2d 1396], and it is my view that the same rule is applicable to the Haeussler case as was applied by the Supreme Court of the United States in the Rochin case, and the Haeussler case should have been reversed by this court. However, for the reasons stated in the majority opinion such rule is not applicable to this case.

Since this is the first case since I have been a member of this court in which the inept statement is made that in passing on a motion for a new trial “the Court sits as a thirteenth juror,” I am constrained to call attention to the absurdity of this statement. There is not a scintilla of logic or common sense in the statement that “the Court sits as a thirteenth juror” in any judicial proceeding. In the first place the judge is not the court but is the officer who presides over the court. The court consists of not only the judge but also of the various attaches such as the clerk, bailiff, reporter, etc. and even counsel who participate in the court proceeding. (14 Am.Jur., p. 247, § 2.) A thirteenth juror would have no more power than any other juror — a voice and a vote in the formation of the verdict — while the court, in passing on a motion for a new trial, has the power to overrule the entire jury, set aside its verdict and grant a new trial in whole or in part before another jury. No such power ever has been, and I dare say never will be, vested in a “thirteenth juror.”[*636] There should be no doubt whatever, that under the traditional rule, a trial court in passing on a motion for a new trial made upon the ground of the insufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict, has the power, and it is its duty to vacate and set aside the verdict and grant a new trial in every ease in which it is of the opinion that a fair and just verdict has not been reached. And certainly, if the court entertains a serious doubt as to the credibility of witnesses for the prosecution whose testimony is essential to establish the guilt of the defendant, this power should be exercised and a new trial granted. From the remarks of the trial judge in the case at bar it strikes me that this is a case in which this power should have been exercised.