Supreme Court Oral Argument

The live webcast began here at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

View the Oral Argument Calendar | Briefs | News Release

The following cases are placed upon the calendar of the Supreme Court for hearing at its Special Session at the courtroom at Colton Hall Museum, 570 Pacific Street, Monterey, California, on October 8, 2025.  The public may attend in person and also have access to argument via live-streaming on the judicial branch website:  https://supreme.courts.ca.gov/.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025 — 9:00 A.M.

Opening Remarks: Special Session

(1) People v. Shaw (Troy Lee), S286453
May two prior convictions arising out of a single act that harms multiple victims constitute two strikes under the Three Strikes law?  (People v. Vargas (2014) 59 Cal.4th 635; People v. Williams (1998) 17 Cal.4th 148.)

(2) City of San José v. Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association et al., S285426
Petition for review after the Court of Appeal affirmed the judgment in a civil action. The court limited review to the following issue: Is the issuance of pension obligation bonds to finance unfunded pension liability subject to the voter-approval requirement of article XVI, section 18, subdivision (a) of the California Constitution?

(3) People v. Demolle (Alex), [Automatic Appeal], S159120
This matter is an automatic appeal from a judgment of death.

1:30 P.M.

(4) People v. Kopp (Christi J.) et al., S257844
(Guerrero, C. J., not participating; Rothschild, P. J. assigned justice pro tempore)
Petition for review after the Court of Appeal affirmed in part and reversed in part judgments of conviction of criminal offenses. The court limited review to the following issues: (1) Must a court consider a defendant’s ability to pay before imposing or executing fines, fees, and assessments? (2) If so, which party bears the burden of proof regarding the defendant’s inability to pay?