Supreme Court of California Justia
Citation 44 Cal. 4th 1241, 190 P.3d 573, 82 Cal. Rptr. 3d 213
In re Shaputis

Filed 8/21/08 (this opn. follows companion case, S154018, also filed 8/21/08)

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA

S155872
In re RICHARD SHAPUTIS
)

Ct.App. 4/1 D049895
on Habeas Corpus.
San Diego County
Super. Ct. No. HC18007

In 1987, Richard Shaputis (petitioner) was convicted of the second degree
murder of his wife, Erma, and was sentenced to an indeterminate term of
imprisonment of 15 years to life in prison, and an additional two years because of
his use of a firearm in the commission of the offense. In 2006, after several
unfavorable parole hearings before the Board of Parole Hearings (Board)1 and
rulings by the superior court and the Court of Appeal, the Board, in compliance
with the mandate of an earlier judicial decision, reluctantly found petitioner
suitable for parole and set a parole date. The Governor, however, reversed the
Board’s decision, concluding petitioner constituted a threat to public safety.
In a petition for writ of habeas corpus, petitioner challenged on several
grounds the Governor’s decision denying parole. The superior court denied the
petition. The Court of Appeal, in a split decision, reversed the superior court and

1
The Board of Parole Hearings replaced the Board of Prison Terms in July
2005. (Pen. Code, § 5075, subd. (a).) For ease of reference, and because both
entities have performed the same duties, we refer to both as “the Board.”
1


granted the writ, concluding that neither the circumstances of petitioner’s crime,
nor petitioner’s “method of coping with his guilt,” provided evidence supporting
the conclusion that petitioner currently would pose an unreasonable risk to public
safety.
We granted review to consider the Attorney General’s contention that the
Court of Appeal majority improperly applied the deferential “some evidence”
standard of review. We conclude that the appellate court erred in reversing the
Governor’s decision. Applying the “some evidence” standard of review as
clarified in the companion case, In re Lawrence (Aug. 21, 2008, S154018) ___
Cal.4th ___, ___ [pp. 2-3] (Lawrence), we conclude that some evidence in the
record supports the Governor’s conclusion that petitioner remains a threat to
public safety in that he has failed to take responsibility for the murder of his wife,
and despite years of rehabilitative programming and participation in substance
abuse programs, has failed to gain insight into his previous violent behavior,
including the brutal domestic violence inflicted upon his wife and children for
many years preceding the commitment offense. By statute, it is established that
the gravity of the commitment offense and petitioner’s current attitude toward the
crime constitute factors indicating unsuitability for parole, and because in this case
these factors provide evidence of the risk currently posed by petitioner to the
community, they provide “some evidence” that petitioner constitutes a current
threat to public safety. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment rendered by the
Court of Appeal.
I
The facts underlying the commitment offense and the history of petitioner’s
parole hearings are not in dispute.
2
A
Petitioner’s mother deserted her husband and children when petitioner was
nine years of age. Petitioner’s father worked long hours and frequently was absent
from the home, leaving petitioner to raise himself and his six younger siblings.
Petitioner’s probation report and 1997 life prisoner evaluation report (LPER)
reflect that petitioner stated his father physically abused him. During his 2004
mental health evaluation and at his parole consideration hearing held that year,
petitioner denied that any abuse took place.
Petitioner has been married three times. His first marriage lasted nine
years, and before ending in divorce the union produced four daughters, one of
whom, Annette, remained in her father’s custody after the dissolution of the
marriage. She recounted that petitioner severely abused her mother, herself, and
her sisters. Annette recounted that petitioner once jumped on her mother’s
stomach, causing her mother to miscarry. If petitioner felt Annette or her sisters
had misbehaved, he would hold a knife to their throats. Annette also explained
that petitioner was a different person behind closed doors than he was in the
presence of other persons, and that he singled out one daughter in particular for
abuse because she was the weakest emotionally. Annette reported that her mother
divorced petitioner because of this physical abuse.
Petitioner subsequently married his second wife, the victim, Erma,2 and
although this marriage lasted 23 years, it too was beset by violence.3 Petitioner’s
probation report reflects that Annette told the authorities that before moving out of

2
In some parts of the record, the victim’s name is spelled “Irma.”
3
While incarcerated, petitioner married his third wife, a recovering
alcoholic.
3


petitioner’s home in 1978, she saw petitioner beat Erma on several occasions and
observed large bruises on Erma’s body. The 1987 probation officer’s report also
states that 15 years prior to the murder, petitioner beat Erma so “terribly” that she
needed plastic surgery. Two years prior to the murder, Erma complained to
petitioner’s daughter Sheryl4 that petitioner had beaten her and cracked her ribs.
Linda Nguyen, a friend of Erma’s, stated that between 1981 and 1986, she
observed bruises on Erma every four to six months, and that Erma told her that
petitioner flew into rages and beat her. Petitioner’s daughter Terry stated that
petitioner had threatened Erma with a knife. During petitioner’s trial, Erma’s
parents testified that petitioner had threatened to send Erma “home in a box.”
Approximately 18 months prior to the murder, when they had been drinking and
arguing, petitioner discharged a firearm at Erma.5 In the probation report,
petitioner is quoted as stating that when Erma slapped him, he “slapped her back.”
This information was discussed in detail at both petitioner’s 2004 and 2006 parole
consideration hearings. None of these incidents resulted in criminal charges.
Petitioner’s employment history showed greater stability. He worked for
San Diego Pacific, Gas & Electric as an electrician and fabricator for seven years,
owned his own welding business, and worked for Bechtel Corporation as a
supervisor for the 13 years preceding the murder.

4
“Sheryl” is spelled “Cheryl” in the transcripts of the parole hearings, but
“Sheryl” in the 1987 probation report and other documents in the record.
5
According to the 1987 report of petitioner’s parole officer, which cites the
district attorney’s file, petitioner’s daughter Sheryl stated that petitioner told her
about the earlier shooting incident. This incident was recited in petitioner’s 2004
mental health evaluation and at his 2006 parole consideration hearing. According
to the 2004 mental health evaluation, during a psychiatric evaluation in 1994
petitioner admitted this shooting. Nevertheless, at his 2006 parole consideration
hearing, petitioner denied shooting at the victim before the murder.
4


On the night of the murder, petitioner telephoned 911 at approximately
10:00 p.m., stated he had fought with his wife and killed her, but claimed it was an
accident. When the police arrived at petitioner’s home, he surrendered without
incident. Petitioner, a problem drinker with a history of violence when drunk, was
drinking heavily the night of the murder. His blood-alcohol level was between .14
and .24 percent at the time of the shooting. Nevertheless, petitioner appeared
completely aware of his surroundings. When the police entered his house, they
found Erma’s body in the living room with a handgun lying nearby. The arrest
report relates that an open box of ammunition was present on a table near the
body. The report also states that the gun could not have been fired accidentally,
because the hammer was required to be pulled back into a cocked position to
enable the trigger to function, and the gun had a “transfer bar” preventing
accidental discharge. The coroner’s report concluded Erma was killed sometime
after 8:30 p.m. by a gunshot wound to the neck. The autopsy examiner concluded
that the shot, which entered the neck between the junction of the neck and the jaw,
had been fired from close range.6
Although the commitment offense was petitioner’s first felony conviction,
his record reflects a long and sometimes violent criminal history. Petitioner was
arrested in 1966 for check fraud or writing checks on a closed account in violation
of Penal Code section 476; this charge was dismissed. In 1975, petitioner was
charged with and convicted of failing to make child support payments, in violation

6
The 2004 life prisoner evaluation report states that the “[e]xaminer
surmised that the shot would have been fired at a close range anywhere from 1
inch to 3 feet, most likely from less than 12 to 16 inches.” The 2004 mental health
evaluation and the 2005 mental health evaluation update state that the shot was
fired from a distance of one foot.
5


of Penal Code section 270, and was placed on three years’ formal probation. In
1978, petitioner was arrested for pandering, convicted of an unspecified offense,
and sentenced to “30 days work furlough.” Also in 1978, petitioner was charged
with raping his 16-year-old daughter, who reported that petitioner raped her twice
while he was intoxicated.7 Although petitioner was charged under Penal Code
sections 261.3 and 285 with rape by threat and with incest, the charges were
reduced to a misdemeanor of soliciting or engaging in a lewd act. He pleaded no
contest and was placed on three years’ formal probation. This conviction was
expunged in 1982. In 1979, petitioner failed to register as a sex offender as
required by his 1978 conviction. Petitioner also admitted having once been
arrested and fined for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol
(DUI) when he was 25 years of age, although his 2005 mental health evaluation
update states that there is “a history of several arrests for DUI.”8
As reflected in the background discussed above, petitioner has a substantial
problem with alcohol. He began consuming alcoholic beverages when he was 18
years of age and describes himself as an alcoholic. Nevertheless, he considers
himself to be a “mellow . . . outgoing” drinker.
As reflected in the transcript of his 2006 parole consideration hearing,
petitioner has had difficulty forming enduring bonds with his family. Petitioner
has no contact with his siblings, his four daughters, or his first wife. He has

7
According to the 2005 mental health evaluation update, petitioner denied
the allegation, claiming he had wandered into his daughter’s room by mistake.
This report and the 2004 mental health evaluation, however, state that petitioner
admitted in 2001 that he had touched his daughter inappropriately but denied that
intercourse occurred.
8
At petitioner’s 2006 parole consideration hearing, his attorney stated that
petitioner had only one prior conviction for DUI.
6


difficulty discussing his daughters’ allegations of rape, incest, and domestic
violence, finding the accusations “inexplicable,” and appears resigned to having
no contact with his daughters. Petitioner acknowledges that his relationship with
his daughters is strained, and that they do not communicate with him. This
situation does not bother him, however, because “we all have to go our own way.”
B
Petitioner has remained discipline-free throughout his incarceration. He
has a long and positive work record, has fully participated in all available
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous programs since 1991,
and has completed all applicable therapy programs, including Hands of Peace,
Alternatives to Violence, Breaking Barriers, Morals and Values, and Controlling
Anger and Learning to Manage it, a program that focuses upon domestic violence.
For several years, petitioner has had the lowest classification score possible for a
life-term inmate, and has numerous commendations from prison staff for his work,
conduct, and reform efforts. Petitioner is 71 years of age, has had three heart
attacks, and suffers from other chronic health problems.
Petitioner’s minimum eligible parole date was in September 1998. At his
first parole hearing, in 1997, the LPER prepared by his prison counselor for
submission to the Board stated petitioner’s “progress in state prison could best be
described as exemplary,” and concluded he “would probably pose a low degree of
threat to the public at this time, if released from prison.” Addressing the
commitment offense, petitioner asserted that the shooting was an accident; there
was no fight before the shooting; the victim handed him the gun for his own
protection; he did not know the gun was loaded, and he did not aim at the victim.9

9
At trial, Erma’s parents testified she was afraid of guns and would have
nothing to do with firearms.
7


The Board found petitioner unsuitable for parole and recommended he
remain discipline-free and participate in self-help and therapy groups. At
petitioner’s second parole hearing in 2002, the LPER confirmed he had remained
discipline-free and continued to participate in self-help groups, and again
concluded (based upon his commitment offense, his prior record, and his prison
adjustment) that he “would probably pose a low degree of threat to the public at
this time if released from prison.” The Board again found petitioner unsuitable for
parole, and again recommended he remain discipline-free and participate in self-
help and therapy groups.
The psychological report prepared in conjunction with petitioner’s 2004
parole suitability hearing stated that petitioner had feasible and appropriate plans
for his life if granted parole, and appeared very committed to maintaining his
sobriety through continued involvement with AA. The report also stated,
however, that the “atypical, detached, almost schizoid quality to some of
petitioner’s earlier relationships” was suggestive of early trauma that petitioner
chooses not to discuss. The report further noted that petitioner has a reduced
ability to achieve self-awareness and to develop relationships with others. The
report assessed petitioner’s risk for violence if paroled, concluding he presented a
low risk for violence absent a relapse into alcoholism.10 The LPER prepared by

10
The report’s risk-of-violence assessment evaluated three elements:
petitioner’s history and background, his clinical presentation, and his
“management of future risk.” The report found that petitioner’s ability to handle
future stress in a nonviolent manner is dependent upon his ability to remain sober,
to engage in activities that hold his interest, and to participate in an active relapse
prevention program. The report also concluded, however, that petitioner would
present an unpredictable risk for future domestic violence if he relapsed into
alcohol abuse. If he did not relapse, his potential for violence would be “quite
close” to the average unconfined citizen. The report concluded that petitioner’s
ability to handle future stress in a nonviolent manner was largely rooted in his
(Footnote continued on next page.)
8


petitioner’s prison counselor for the 2004 parole suitability hearing again noted
petitioner’s exemplary prison record and that he had fully adhered to the Board’s
prior recommendations. The report concluded, considering the commitment
offense, petitioner’s prior criminal record, and his adjustment in prison, that he
“probably [would] pose a low degree of threat to the public at this time if released
from prison.”11 With regard to petitioner’s contention that the murder of his wife
was an accident, he was afforded the opportunity to amend his statements at the
1997 hearing, but asked that his characterization of the crime remain
unchanged — that is, he continued to contend that the murder was an accident.
The Board concluded petitioner was not suitable for parole, because he
posed “an unreasonable risk of danger to society or a threat to the public safety if
released from prison.” The Board cited two findings supporting this conclusion.
First, the Board found the commitment offense was “carried out in an especially
cruel and/or callous manner” and was “carried out in a dispassionate and/or
calculated manner,” because the murder was committed at close range with a
single shot. Second, the Board found petitioner had a “history of unstable and
tremulous [sic] relationships with others and had assaulted his wife.”
C

(Footnote continued from previous page.)
ability to remain sober. The examining psychiatrist believed petitioner’s prison
record (that is, his commitment to his AA program and his demonstrated ability to
comply with rules) and his current physical condition (a senior citizen with
chronic health problems that would limit concerns about his acting out in
inappropriate ways) made petitioner a low risk for future violence.
11
The two prior LPER’s, prepared by petitioner’s prison counselors for
submission to the Board in connection with his 1997 and 2002 parole hearings,
also expressed the opinion that petitioner posed a low degree of threat to the
public if released from prison.
9


Petitioner filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the San Diego
County Superior Court alleging the Board had violated his due process rights
because its unsuitability determination was unsupported by the evidence and
hence was arbitrary and capricious. The court denied the writ, concluding the
Board’s decision was supported by some evidence. Petitioner then filed a petition
for a writ of habeas corpus in the Court of Appeal. The appellate court, in a split
decision, concluded the Board’s decision to deny parole violated his right to due
process, because the Board’s finding that petitioner posed an unreasonable danger
if released was contrary to the only reliable evidence concerning his current
dangerousness, and the Board’s decision relied upon findings unsupported by any
evidence. The dissenting justice maintained that there existed more than “some
evidence” that the crime was aggravated, and that petitioner had yet to understand
why he was an alcoholic, why he engaged in serious domestic violence, and why
he murdered his wife — all of which constituted “some evidence” that petitioner
remained a threat to public safety.
The Court of Appeal ordered the Board to vacate its denial of parole and to
conduct a new parole suitability hearing for petitioner. The court instructed the
Board that it was barred from finding petitioner unsuitable for parole based upon
the same findings articulated at its 2004 hearing, absent new or different evidence.
The court explained that the Board could consider petitioner’s suitability de novo
insofar as new or different evidence was presented at the hearing.
The Board conducted the ordered parole hearing in March 2006. The only
information not previously available to the Board was the psychological
assessment, conducted in April 2005 by Dr. Silverstein, which concluded
petitioner “would appear to be a low risk of future violence if release[d], as long as
he maintains sobriety and involvement in an active relapse prevention program.”
The assessment also confirmed, however, that petitioner had a “schizoid quality to
10
interpersonal relationships,” and noted that petitioner seemed to have “limited . . .
insight” regarding his antisocial behavior and the circumstance that his history of
alcohol abuse was closely associated with his history of domestic violence. The
report stated, nevertheless, that “there appears little potential benefit at this point
in his development to attempt to modify this [character-based] structure.”
The report concluded that if petitioner remained sober, his risk of violence
was close to that of the “average unconfined citizen,” but if he relapsed “the risk
would likely rise considerably and he would present . . . an unpredictable risk for
future domestic violence.” Dr. Silverstein was concerned that petitioner planned
to reside with his new wife (with whom he had not previously resided) and
observed that his violence tended to be “confined to his family systems and [it is]
difficult to assess how well extinguished his pattern of domestic violence is[,]
given that he has been confined for more than 18 years. If he abstains from
alcohol, the risk is probably low.” Dr. Silverstein also noted that the amount of
support petitioner would receive from his third wife (a recovering alcoholic) in
maintaining his sobriety “may need some external verification.” Dr. Silverstein
concluded that alcohol relapse prevention and domestic violence treatment
programming would “likely adequately manage these risks,” and recommended
that petitioner’s conditions of parole include random alcohol testing and
mandatory participation in a relapse prevention program and community-based
domestic violence program. The report further concluded petitioner’s alcohol
dependence is in “sustained institutional remission.”
During the proceedings, the Board referred to Dr. Silverstein’s report,
noting the report’s observation that petitioner found “inexplicable” his daughters’
prior allegations of molestation and domestic violence, that he had a flat affect
when discussing these allegations, and that this circumstance could be a sign of
the schizoid tendencies noted in some previous evaluations. The Board expressed
11
concerns regarding petitioner’s lack of insight into his history of domestic
violence and his alcoholism, and voiced the attendant concern that he would
present an unreasonable risk of danger to the public and to his new wife. When
questioned whether he had a problem in the way he treated women, petitioner
replied, “[w]ell, no I don’t. I don’t know how to say that I don’t have a problem
now. I didn’t have a — I guess I had a problem then but I don’t know how to put
it into pictures or words. I just — It was one of those things I didn’t quite
understand, I guess. Not having a thorough idea of how stupid I was being, how
dumb I was being.” The deputy district attorney asked the panel to question
petitioner further concerning his current understanding of why he committed the
murder and why he now would not commit such a crime. The presiding
commissioner on the panel explained that the question was important in
determining how petitioner was “different today.” Petitioner’s counsel advised
him not to answer the question.
The Board, considering itself severely restricted in the exercise of its
discretion by the appellate court’s instructions on remand, reluctantly found
petitioner suitable for parole. The presiding commissioner stated that she believed
petitioner was still unsuitable for parole, as he was in 2004, because he continued
to lack understanding concerning why he killed his wife and why for years he
engaged in domestic violence. The Board concluded, however, that the Court of
Appeal’s opinion barred the Board from finding petitioner unsuitable on the same
grounds relied upon at the previous hearing, and that the appellate opinion also
barred reliance on the evidence previously considered. Expressly stating that this
limiting directive guided its conclusion, the Board found petitioner suitable for
parole.
12
The Board, employing a matrix applicable to second degree murderers (Cal.
Code Regs., tit. 15, § 2402, subd. (b)),12 set petitioner’s maximum term (after
deducting credits) at 151 months. Because this term lapsed in November 1999,
the Board granted petitioner parole subject to the special parole conditions that
petitioner submit to alcohol testing and participate in a substance abuse program
and a domestic violence program. It ordered petitioner paroled to San Diego
County.
In August 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed the Board’s
decision, because he concluded petitioner posed an unreasonable risk of danger to
society if released. The Governor’s decision relied upon two grounds: (1) the
crime was especially aggravated because it involved some premeditation, and
(2) petitioner had not fully accepted responsibility for, and lacked sufficient
insight concerning, his conduct toward the victim. In discussing these two
reasons, the Governor related the circumstances of petitioner’s offense, pointing
out that petitioner previously had considered killing his wife and sending her
“home in a box.” The Governor also considered petitioner’s long history of
domestic violence, including a beating so severe that Erma needed plastic surgery.
The Governor further noted petitioner’s criminal history, his poor relationship
with his family, and his new marriage.
As he had done following the prior denial of parole by the Board, petitioner
again filed in the San Diego County Superior Court a petition for a writ of habeas
corpus, this time alleging the Governor’s decision violated his right to due process
of law because the unsuitability determination was unsupported by the evidence

12
Unless otherwise indicated, all further unspecified statutory references are
to the Penal Code, and all further undesignated references to Regulations are to
title 15 of the California Code of Regulations.
13


and was therefore arbitrary and capricious. After the court denied the writ,
petitioner again filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the Fourth District
Court of Appeal.
The appellate court, in another split decision, granted petitioner relief,
concluding that (1) “the circumstances of the crime do not provide any evidence to
support the conclusion that petitioner would currently pose an unreasonable risk to
public safety if released on parole,” and (2) “there is no evidence to support the
conclusion that petitioner posed an unreasonable risk of danger merely because of
his method of coping with his guilt.” The dissenting justice noted that the Board
had paroled petitioner reluctantly, doing so despite its conclusion that if released
petitioner still presents an unreasonable risk of danger to public safety.
II
We granted review to resolve a conflict among the Courts of Appeal
regarding the proper scope of the deferential “some evidence” standard of review
set forth in In re Rosenkrantz (2002) 29 Cal.4th 616 (Rosenkrantz), and thereafter
applied in In re Dannenberg (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1061 (Dannenberg). Specifically,
we must decide whether a reviewing court focuses upon “some evidence” of the
core statutory determination that petitioner remains a current threat to public
safety, or merely “some evidence” that supports the Governor’s characterization of
facts in the record. In the companion case of Lawrence, filed concurrently with
this opinion, we conclude that, because the paramount consideration for both the
Board and the Governor under the governing statutes is whether the inmate
currently poses a threat to public safety, and because the inmate’s due process
interest in parole mandates a meaningful review of a denial-of-parole decision, the
proper articulation of the standard of review is whether there exists “some
evidence” that an inmate poses a current threat to public safety, rather than merely
14
some evidence of the existence of a statutory unsuitability factor. (Lawrence,
supra, ___ Cal.4th at ___ [p. 2].)
With regard to the Board’s or the Governor’s reliance upon the
circumstances of the crime as evidence that an inmate remains a current threat to
public safety, we conclude in Lawrence that because the aggravated nature of a
commitment offense does not, in every case, provide relevant evidence that an
inmate remains dangerous, and a focus upon the egregiousness of the commitment
offense to the exclusion of other relevant evidence has proved in practice to
obscure the core statutory emphasis upon current dangerousness, the manner in
which courts apply the some evidence standard in evaluating the evidentiary value
of the gravity of the commitment offense requires some clarification. (Lawrence,
supra, ___ Cal.4th at ___ [p. 35].)
Accordingly, “the determination whether an inmate poses a current danger
is not dependent upon whether his or her commitment offense is more or less
egregious than other, similar crimes. (Dannenberg, supra, 34 Cal.4th at pp. 1083-
1084, 1095.) Nor is it dependent solely upon whether the circumstances of the
offense exhibit viciousness above the minimum elements required for conviction
of that offense. Rather, the relevant inquiry is whether the circumstances of the
commitment offense, when considered in light of other facts in the record, are
such that they continue to be predictive of current dangerousness many years after
commission of the offense. This inquiry is, by necessity and by statutory mandate,
an individualized one, and cannot be undertaken simply by examining the
circumstances of the crime in isolation, without consideration of the passage of
time or the attendant changes in the inmate’s psychological or mental attitude.
(Rosenkrantz, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 682.)” (Lawrence, supra, ___ Cal.4th at
p ___ [p. 46].)
15
Thus, “the Board or the Governor may base a denial-of-parole decision
upon the circumstances of the offense, or upon other immutable facts such as an
inmate’s criminal history, but some evidence will support such reliance only if
those facts support the ultimate conclusion that an inmate continues to pose an
unreasonable risk to public safety. [Citation.] Accordingly, the relevant inquiry
for a reviewing court is not merely whether an inmate’s crime was especially
callous, or shockingly vicious or lethal, but whether the identified facts are
probative to the central issue of current dangerousness when considered in light of
the full record before the Board or the Governor.” (Lawrence supra, ___ Cal.4th
at p. ___ [p. 47].)
In the present case, the Court of Appeal majority properly framed its
inquiry as whether “some evidence” supports the Governor’s determination that
petitioner poses a current threat to public safety. The appellate court also properly
recognized that the aggravated circumstances of the commitment offense are
relevant only insofar as they continue to demonstrate that an inmate currently is
dangerous. As explained below, however, the majority decision failed to adhere to
the deferential standard of review we set forth in Rosenkrantz, supra, 29 Cal.4th
616, and because a review of the record reveals some evidence supporting the
Governor’s decision that petitioner remains dangerous, we must conclude that the
Court of Appeal majority improperly substituted its own parole suitability
determination for that of the Governor.
III
We review the record to determine whether some evidence supports the
Governor’s determination that petitioner remains a current threat to public safety
pursuant to section 3041 because of the aggravated circumstances of his
commitment offense and “his lack of insight into the murder and the abuse of his
wife and family.” For the reasons set forth below, we conclude that “some
16
evidence” in the record supports the conclusion that petitioner poses an
unreasonable public safety risk, and accordingly further conclude that the Court of
Appeal erred in setting aside the Governor’s decision. (See Rosenkrantz, supra,
29 Cal.4th at p. 658; Dannenberg, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 1071.)
A
“The applicable statutes provide that the Board is the administrative agency
within the executive branch that generally is authorized to grant parole and set
release dates. (§§ 3040, 5075 et seq.) The Board’s parole decisions are governed
by section 3041 and Title 15, section [2402] of the California Code of
Regulations. . . . Pursuant to statute, the Board ‘shall normally set a parole release
date’ one year prior to the inmate’s minimum eligible parole release date, and shall
set the date ‘in a manner that will provide uniform terms for offenses of similar
gravity and magnitude in respect to their threat to the public . . . .’ (§ 3041 subd.
(a), italics added.) Subdivision (b) of section 3041 provides that a release date
must be set ‘unless [the Board] determines that the gravity of the current convicted
offense or offenses, or the timing and gravity of current or past convicted offense
or offenses, is such that consideration of the public safety requires a more lengthy
period of incarceration for this individual, and that a parole date, therefore, cannot
be fixed at this meeting.’(Italics added; see Rosenkrantz, supra, 29 Cal.4th at
p. 654, fn. omitted.)” (Lawrence, supra, ___ Cal.4th at p. ___ [p. 18.]
Title 15, section 2402 of the California Code of Regulations sets forth the
factors to be considered by the Board in carrying out the mandate of the statutes.13

13
Petitioner’s parole suitability is governed by Title 15, section 2402, which
we addressed in Rosenkrantz, supra, 29 Cal.4th 616 — a discussion excerpted in
substantial part below. In the companion case of Lawrence, supra, ___ Cal.4th
___, the inmate’s parole suitability is governed by Title 15, section 2281, which
(Footnote continued on next page.)
17


This regulation is designed to guide the Board’s assessment of whether the inmate
poses “an unreasonable risk of danger to society if released from prison,” and thus
whether he or she is suitable for parole. (Regs., § 2402, subd. (a).)14 The
regulation also lists several circumstances relating to unsuitability for parole15

(Footnote continued from previous page.)
provides parole consideration criteria and guidelines for murders committed prior
to November 8, 1978. The two sections are identical.
14
These factors include “the circumstances of the prisoner’s social history;
past and present mental state; past criminal history, including involvement in other
criminal misconduct which is reliably documented; the base and other
commitment offenses, including behavior before, during and after the crime; past
and present attitude toward the crime; any conditions of treatment or control,
including the use of special conditions under which the prisoner may safely be
released to the community; and any other information which bears on the
prisoner’s suitability for release. Circumstances which taken alone may not firmly
establish unsuitability for parole may contribute to a pattern which results in a
finding of unsuitability.” (Regs., § 2402, subd. (b).)
15
Unsuitability factors are: (1) a commitment offense carried out in an
“especially heinous, atrocious or cruel manner”; (2) a “[p]revious [r]ecord of
[v]iolence”; (3) “a history of unstable or tumultuous relationships with others”;
(4) “[s]adistic [s]exual [o]ffenses”; (5) “a lengthy history of severe mental
problems related to the offense”; and (6) “[t]he prisoner has engaged in serious
misconduct in prison or jail.” (Regs., § 2402, subd. (c)(1)-(6).) This subdivision
further provides that “the importance attached to any circumstance or combination
of circumstances in a particular case is left to the judgment of the panel.” (Regs.,
§ 2402, subd. (c).)

Factors supporting a finding that the inmate committed the offense in an
especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel manner include the following: (A) multiple
victims were attacked, injured, or killed in the same or separate incidents; (B) the
offense was carried out in a dispassionate and calculated manner, such as an
execution-style murder; (C) the victim was abused, defiled, or mutilated during or
after the offense; (D) the offense was carried out in a manner that demonstrates an
exceptionally callous disregard for human suffering; and (E) the motive for the
crime is inexplicable or very trivial in relation to the offense. (Regs., § 2402,
subd. (c)(1).)
18


such as the heinous, atrocious, or cruel nature of the crime, or an unstable social
background; and several circumstances relating to suitability for parole — such as
an inmate’s rehabilitative efforts, demonstration of remorse, and the mitigating
circumstances of the crime.16 (Regs., § 2402, subds. (c), (d).) Finally, the
regulation explains that the foregoing circumstances “are set forth as general
guidelines; the importance attached to any circumstance or combination of
circumstances in a particular case is left to the judgment of the panel.” (Regs.,
§ 2402, subds. (c), (d).) The Governor’s power to review a decision of the Board
is set forth in article V, section 8, subdivision (b) of the California Constitution.17

16
Suitability factors are: (1) the absence of a juvenile record; (2) “reasonably
stable relationships with others”; (3) signs of remorse; (4) a crime committed “as
the result of significant stress in [the prisoner’s] life”; (5) battered woman
syndrome; (6) the lack of “any significant history of violent crime”; (7) “[t]he
prisoner’s present age reduces the probability of recidivism”; (8) “[t]he prisoner
has made realistic plans for release or has developed marketable skills that can be
put to use upon release”; and (9) the inmate’s “[i]nstitutional activities indicate an
enhanced ability to function within the law upon release.” (Regs., § 2402, subd.
(d)(1)-(9).)
17
Article V, section 8 subdivision (b) of the California Constitution provides
in full: “No decision of the parole authority of this State with respect to the
granting, denial, revocation, or suspension of parole of a person sentenced to an
indeterminate term upon conviction of murder shall become effective for a period
of 30 days, during which the Governor may review the decision subject to
procedures provided by statute. The Governor may only affirm, modify, or
reverse the decision of the parole authority on the basis of the same factors which
the parole authority is required to consider. The Governor shall report to the
Legislature each parole decision affirmed, modified, or reversed, stating the
pertinent facts and reasons for the action.”

The statutory procedures governing the Governor’s review of a parole
decision pursuant to article V, section 8 subdivision (b), are set forth in Penal
Code section 3041.2, which states: “(a) During the 30 days following the granting,
denial, revocation, or suspension by a parole authority of the parole of a person
sentenced to an indeterminate prison term based upon a conviction of murder, the
Governor, when reviewing the authority’s decision pursuant to subdivision (b) of
(Footnote continued on next page.)
19


“[T]he governing statute provides that the Board must grant parole unless it
determines that public safety requires a lengthier period of incarceration for the
individual because of the gravity of the offense underlying the conviction. (Pen.
Code, § 3041, subd. (b).) And as set forth in the governing regulations, the Board
must set a parole date for a prisoner unless it finds, in the exercise of its judgment
after considering the circumstances enumerated in section 2402 of the regulations,
that the prisoner is unsuitable for parole. Accordingly, parole applicants in this
state have an expectation that they will be granted parole unless the Board finds, in
the exercise of its discretion, that they are unsuitable for parole in light of the
circumstances specified by statute and by regulation.” (Rosenkrantz, supra, 29
Cal.4th at p. 654, Italics added.)
The Governor is subject to the same standards as those that apply to the
Board. As we stated in Rosenkrantz, supra, 29 Cal.4th 616, the Governor’s
interpretation of a documentary record is entitled to deference. (Id. at p. 677.)
Although “the Governor’s decision must be based upon the same factors that
restrict the Board in rendering its parole decision” (Rosenkrantz, supra, 29 Cal.4th
at p. 660), the Governor undertakes an independent, de novo review of the
inmate’s suitability for parole. (Ibid.) Accordingly, the Governor has discretion
to be “more stringent or cautious” in determining whether a defendant poses an
unreasonable risk to public safety. (Id. at p. 686.) When a court reviews the

(Footnote continued from previous page.)
Section 8 of Article V of the Constitution, shall review materials provided by the
parole authority. [¶] (b) If the Governor decides to reverse or modify a parole
decision of a parole authority pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article V
of the Constitution, he or she shall send a written statement to the inmate
specifying the reasons for his or her decision.”
20


record for some evidence supporting the Governor’s conclusion that a petitioner
currently poses an unreasonable risk to public safety, it will affirm the Governor’s
interpretation of the evidence so long as that interpretation is reasonable and
reflects due consideration of all relevant statutory factors. (Rosenkrantz, supra, 29
Cal.4th at pp. 656-658, 660-661.)
B
The Governor set forth two general reasons for concluding petitioner
currently poses an “unreasonable risk of danger to society” if released from prison:
(1) defendant’s premeditated intent to kill his wife, which rendered the second
degree murder commitment offense “especially aggravated;” and (2) petitioner’s
lack of insight into the murder and into the years of domestic violence that
preceded it.
Specifically, the Governor’s decision states the commitment offense is
“especially aggravated because it involved some level of premeditation, as
evidenced in the record before me . . . . [Petitioner] told the 9-1-1 dispatcher that
he and his wife had had a little fight and he had shot her . . . . [W]hen [petitioner]
was upset with his wife he would sometimes say he would send her ‘home in a
box. . . .’ [Petitioner] had been violent toward Ms. Shaputis before the murder
. . . . [and] had once beaten [Ms. Shaputis] so ‘terribly’ that she needed plastic
surgery on her face, and [petitioner’s] daughter reported that Ms. Shaputis had
once complained of cracked ribs due to a beating by [petitioner]. . . . [T]he
evidence of domestic violence inflicted upon Ms. Shaputis by [petitioner] ‘had
high probative value . . . that the defendant had the intent to kill.’ The gravity of
the second degree murder perpetrated by [petitioner] is alone sufficient for me to
conclude presently that his release from prison would pose an unreasonable
public-safety risk.” The Governor also noted that petitioner continued to assert
21
that he shot his wife accidentally, despite evidence strongly suggesting the
shooting was intentional.
The Governor quoted the Board’s presiding commissioner, who stated at
petitioner’s parole hearing that she continued to believe petitioner was unsuitable
for parole because, as she explained to him: “ ‘There still was a lack of
understanding as to why, number one, you killed your wife, and number two, why
there was so much domestic violence going on in your family through many
years. . . . I feel that you did need more time to really think about these things and
to come to grips with the crime and show that you know the reasons why you
committed the crime. However, today we do feel unduly burdened and bound by
this court decision so we’re doing what we think is going to be the . . . legal thing
to do.’ ”
The Governor, in his statement reversing the Board, noted petitioner’s
many years of laudatory work reports, his discipline-free record during
incarceration, and his participation in AA, Narcotics Anonymous, and many other
rehabilitative programs, including some focused specifically on anger
management and domestic violence, and acknowledged petitioner’s “creditable
gains.” The Governor found, however, “the negative factors weighing against
[petitioner’s] parole unsuitability presently outweigh those tending to support it.
Accordingly, because I believe his release from prison would pose an
unreasonable risk of danger to society at this time, I REVERSE the Board’s 2006
decision to grant parole to [petitioner.]”
Some evidence in the record supports the Governor’s decision that
petitioner remains dangerous. His decision stated that because the commitment
offense (second degree murder) was intentional and premeditated, it was
“especially aggravated,” and “alone sufficient” to conclude that petitioner posed a
current risk to public safety. The record supports the Governor’s determination
22
that the crime was especially aggravated and, importantly, that the aggravated
nature of the offense indicates that petitioner poses a current risk to public safety.
This is not a case, like Lawrence, supra, __ Cal.4th ___, ____ [p. 53], in which the
commitment offense was an isolated incident, committed while petitioner was
subject to emotional stress that was unusual or unlikely to recur. (See, e.g. Regs.,
§ 2402, subd. (d) (4) [the circumstance that the crime was committed during a
period of significant stress in an inmate’s life constitutes evidence to be considered
in evaluating his or her suitability for parole].) Instead, the murder was the
culmination of many years of petitioner’s violent and brutalizing behavior toward
the victim, his children, and his previous wife.
The record establishes, moreover, that although petitioner has stated that his
conduct was “wrong,” and feels some remorse for the crime, he has failed to gain
insight or understanding into either his violent conduct or his commission of the
commitment offense. Evidence concerning the nature of the weapon, the location
of ammunition found at the crime scene, and petitioner’s statement that he had a
“little fight” with his wife support the view that he killed his wife intentionally,
but as the record also demonstrates, petitioner still claims the shooting was an
accident. This claim, considered with evidence of petitioner’s history of domestic
abuse and recent psychological reports reflecting that his character remains
unchanged and that he is unable to gain insight into his antisocial behavior despite
years of therapy and rehabilitative “programming”,18 all provide some evidence in

18
We note that expressions of insight and remorse will vary from prisoner to
prisoner and that there is no special formula for a prisoner to articulate in order to
communicate that he or she has gained insight into, and formed a commitment to
ending, a previous pattern of violent behavior. In this case, however, the
Governor’s reliance on petitioner’s lack of insight is amply supported by the
record — both in petitioner’s own statements at his parole hearing characterizing
(Footnote continued on next page.)
23


support of the Governor’s conclusion that petitioner remains dangerous and is
unsuitable for parole.19
It may be reasonable to conclude, as did the Court of Appeal majority, that
petitioner’s many years of sobriety, advanced age, and chronic health problems
suggest he never again will consume alcohol, will not relapse into violent conduct,
and thus does not remain a risk to public safety. As we stated in Rosenkrantz,
supra, 29 Cal.4th 616, however, “the precise manner in which the specified factors
relevant to parole suitability are considered and balanced lies within the discretion
of the Governor. . . . It is irrelevant that a court might determine that evidence in
the record tending to establish suitability for parole far outweighs evidence
demonstrating unsuitability for parole. As long as the Governor’s decision reflects
due consideration of the specified factors as applied to the individual prisoner in
accordance with applicable legal standards, the court’s review is limited to

(Footnote continued from previous page.)
the commitment offense as an accident and minimizing his responsibility for the
years of violence he inflicted on his family, and in recent psychological
evaluations noting petitioner’s reduced ability to achieve self-awareness.
19
It is notable that, as was the situation in Rosenkrantz, supra, 29 Cal.4th at
page 637, the Board, exercising its own judgment and discretion, determined that
based upon the circumstances of the commitment offense and petitioner’s lack of
insight into his previous criminality, petitioner was not yet suitable for parole. It
was only under the compulsion of the appellate court’s decision in petitioner’s
first habeas corpus proceeding, which concluded that the Board’s decision
denying parole was not supported by any evidence and ordered the Board to grant
parole unless some new evidence establishing unsuitability existed (thereby
precluding the Board from considering all relevant statutory factors), that the
Board ultimately issued a decision granting parole to petitioner. Thus, as Justice
Benke concluded in dissent, the Governor, in setting aside the Board’s reluctant
and artificially constrained decision, vacated the decision rendered by the Court of
Appeal majority rather than the decision of the Board.
24


ascertaining whether there is some evidence in the record that supports the
Governor’s decision.” (Id. at p. 677, italics added.)
In the present case, the decision made by the Governor reflects that he
accorded petitioner individualized consideration with regard to all relevant
statutory factors. The Governor’s statement reflects he found that petitioner
remains a current danger to the safety of the public, and specifically that the
gravity of the offense and petitioner’s lack of insight and failure to accept
responsibility outweigh the factors favoring suitability for parole.20 We have
determined that some evidence in the record supports the Governor’s decision.
The Governor did not disregard petitioner’s behavior in prison, but rather
considered it to be one of several factors, although one outweighed by the gravity
of the offense and petitioner’s lack of insight into his long history of violence —
factors that suggest petitioner remains a current danger to the public.

20
We note that although the Governor stated that the circumstances of the
commitment offense were “alone sufficient” to justify a denial of parole, “it is not
the circumstance that the crime is particularly egregious that makes a prisoner
unsuitable for parole — it is the implication concerning future dangerousness that
derives from the prisoner having committed that crime.” (Lawrence, supra, ___,
Cal.4th at p. ___ [p. 36].) In the present case, the Governor’s decision is
supported by some evidence — not merely because the crime was particularly
egregious, but because petitioner’s failure to take full responsibility for past
violence, and his lack of insight into his behavior, establish that the circumstances
of petitioner’s crime and violent background continue to be probative to the issue
of his current dangerousness.
25


V
For the reasons discussed above, the judgment of the Court of Appeal is
reversed.
GEORGE, C. J.
WE CONCUR:

KENNARD, J.
WERDEGAR, J.
MORENO, J.

26






CONCURRING OPINION BY CHIN, J.

I agree that some evidence supports the denial of parole in this case, just as
it did in the companion case of In re Lawrence (Aug. 21, 2008, S154018) __
Cal.4th __ (Lawrence). As he did in Lawrence, the Governor assessed petitioner’s
case individually and considered all relevant factors before reaching a reasoned
decision denying parole. Accordingly, as I stated in my dissent in Lawrence, we
must defer to the judgment of the branch of government entrusted with the parole
decision. (See In re Dannenberg (2005) 34 Cal.4th 1061; In re Rosenkrantz
(2002) 29 Cal.4th 616.)
I see no basis to distinguish this case (involving a conviction of second
degree murder) from Lawrence, supra, __ Cal.4th __ (involving a conviction of
first degree murder) and to release Lawrence but deny parole to Shaputis. I
therefore adhere to the views expressed in my Lawrence dissent (Lawrence, supra,
__ Cal.4th at p. __ (dis. opn. of Chin, J.)) and, accordingly, concur in the result
only.
CHIN,
J.
WE CONCUR:

BAXTER, J.
CORRIGAN, J.
1



See next page for addresses and telephone numbers for counsel who argued in Supreme Court.

Name of Opinion In re Shaputis on Habeas Corpus
__________________________________________________________________________________

Unpublished Opinion


Original Appeal
Original Proceeding XXX
Review Granted
Rehearing Granted

__________________________________________________________________________________

Opinion No.

S155872
Date Filed: August 21, 2008
__________________________________________________________________________________

Court:


County:
Judge:

__________________________________________________________________________________

Attorneys for Appellant:

Law Offices of Marc Elliot Grossman, Marc Elliot Grossman; and Monica Knox, Assistant Federal
Defender, for Petitioner Richard Shaputis.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Attorneys for Respondent:

Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Attorney General, Dane R. Gillette, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Julie L.
Garland, Assistant Attorney General, Anya M. Binsacca, Heather Bushman and Amanda Lloyd, Deputy
Attorneys General, for Respondent State of California.

John R. Poyner, District Attorney (Colusa); Bonnie M. Dumanis, District Attorney (San Diego); Albert C.
Locher, Assistant District Attorney (Sacramento); Richard J. Sachs, Deputy District Attorney (San Diego);
and W. Scott Thorpe for California District Attorneys Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of
Respondent State of California.



Counsel who argued in Supreme Court (not intended for publication with opinion):

Marc Elliot Grossman
Law Offices of Marc Elliot Grossman
818 Mountain Avenue, Suite 111
Upland, CA 91784
(909) 608-7426

Monica Knox
Assistant Federal Defender
Office of Federal Defender
801 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 498-5700

Dane R. Gillette
Chief Assistant Attorney General
300 South Spring Street, Suite 1702
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213) 620-6531


Petition for review after the Court of Appeal granted a petition for writ of habeas corpus. This case presents the following issues: (1) In assessing whether "some evidence" supports a decision by the Governor to deny parole, is the inquiry limited to whether the reasons stated have a factual basis or should a reviewing court also examine whether the evidence supports a finding that the inmate presents an unreasonable current risk of danger to the public? (2) When a reviewing court determines that a gubernatorial parole decision is not supported by sufficient evidence, should it remand the matter to the executive branch to proceed in accordance with due process, or should it order the inmate's immediate release?

Opinion Information
Date:Citation:Docket Number:Category:Status:Cross Referenced Cases:
Thu, 08/21/200844 Cal. 4th 1241, 190 P.3d 573, 82 Cal. Rptr. 3d 213S155872Review - Habeas (criminal)closed; remittitur issued

DANNENBERG (JOHN E.) ON H.C. (S158880)
STABEN (LEE) ON H.C. (S159042)
MONTGOMERY (MICHAEL) ON H.C. (S159141)
ROZZO (JOSEPH) ON H.C. (S161469)
PARKER (LENNIE) ON H.C. (S162423)
AVALOS (JUSTO) ON H.C. (S162509)
SINGLER (RONALD) ON H.C. (S163264)
BURDAN (CLARENCE) ON H.C. (S163311)
VIRAY (NICOMEDES) ON H.C. (S163774)
HUYNH (NAM VAN) ON H.C. (S163819)
VASQUEZ (DAVID) ON H.C. (S163931)
ARMSTRONG (HOWARD) ON H.C. (S164269)


Parties
1Schwarzenegger, Arnold (Non-Title Respondent)
Represented by Amanda Leigh Lloyd
Office of the Attorney General
110 W. "A" Street, Suite 1100
SanDiego, CA

2Schwarzenegger, Arnold (Non-Title Respondent)
Represented by Dane R. Gillette
Office of the Attorney General
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 11000
San Francisco, CA

3Shaputis, Richard (Petitioner)
Represented by Marc Elliot Grossman
Law Office of Marc E. Grossman
818 N. Mountain Avenue, Suite 111
Upland, CA

4Shaputis, Richard (Petitioner)
Represented by Monica Knox
Office of the Federal Public Defender
801 "I" Street, Third Floor
Sacramento, CA

5California District Attorneys Association (Amicus curiae)
Represented by Richard Jeffrey Sachs
Office of the District Attorney
330 W. Broadway, Suite 1300
San Diego, CA

6Hartley, James D. (Non-Title Respondent)
Represented by Dane R. Gillette
Office of the Attorney General
455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 11000
San Francisco, CA


Disposition
Aug 21 2008Opinion: Reversed

Dockets
Aug 30 2007Petition for review with request for stay filed (criminal)
  Governor A. Schwarzenegger, respondent Amanda LLoyd, Dep. A.G. Stay requested of the immediate release of petitioner
Aug 30 2007Record requested
 
Aug 31 2007Stay order filed
 
Sep 4 2007Received Court of Appeal record
  one volume
Sep 6 2007Opposition filed
  Petitioner's Opposition to Stay; Request to Extinguish Stay by Marc Elliot Grossman, retained counsel
Oct 24 2007Petition for review granted; issues limited (criminal case)
  The issue to be briefed and argued is limited to the following: In assessing whether "some evidence" supports a decision by the Governor to deny parole, is the inquiry limited to whether the reasons stated have a factual basis or should a reviewing court also examine whether the evidence supports a finding the inmate presents an unreasonable current risk of danger to the public? Petitioner's request to extinguish the stay, filed in this court on September 6, 2007, is denied. Votes: George, C.J., Kennard, Baxter, Werdegar, Chin, Moreno and Corrigan, JJ.
Oct 26 2007Order filed
  The order filed on October 24, 2007, granting the petition for review is amended to read, in its entirety; "The petition for review is granetd. Petitioner's request, filed in this court on September 6, 2007, to extinguish the stay, is denied."
Nov 26 2007Opening brief on the merits filed
  counsel for resps.
Dec 24 2007Answer brief on the merits filed
  Petitioner Shaputis' by Marc Elliot Grossman, counsel.
Jan 14 2008Reply brief filed (case fully briefed)
  Respondents Governor Schwarzenegger and James D. Hartley, Acting Warden of Avenal State Prison Deputy Attorney General Amanda LLoyd
Feb 13 2008Received application to file Amicus Curiae Brief
  California District Attorneys Association in support of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. by Richard J. Sachs, counsel
Feb 20 2008Opposition filed
  Appellant's opposition to District Attorney's Association's application to file an amicus brief, by Marc Elliot Grossman, Counsel
Feb 21 2008Permission to file amicus curiae brief granted
  The application of California District Attorneys Association for permission to file an amicus curiae brief in support of respondent, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is hereby granted. An answer thereto may be served and filed by any party within twenty days of the filing of the brief.
Feb 21 2008Amicus curiae brief filed
  California District Attorneys Association in support of respondent, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger by Richard J. Sachs, counsel
Feb 22 2008Received:
  Received additional copies of opposition from counsel.
Mar 10 2008Response to amicus curiae brief filed
  Petitioner Shaputis' to Amicus Curiae Brief of California District Attorneys Association. by Marc Elliot Grossman, retained counsel
Apr 30 2008Case ordered on calendar
  to be argued on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, at 9:00 a.m., in Los Angeles
May 16 2008Application filed
  Application for permission to divide oral argument time, filed by Marc E. Grossman, counsel for petitioner: asking to share 20 minutes of oral argument with Monica Knox, assistant Federal Defender.
May 20 2008Letter sent to:
  all parties. The court has asked me to inform you that oral argument in this case should be focused only upon the issue that the court's order directed the parties to brief and argue. Specifically, "[i]n assessing whether 'some evidence' supports a decision by the Governor to deny parole, is the inquiry limited to whether the reasons stated have a factual basis or should a reviewing court also examine whether the evidence supports a finding the inmate presents an unreasonable current risk of danger to the public?"
May 21 2008Order filed
  The request of counsel for petitioner in the above-referenced cause to allow two counsel to argue on behalf of petitioner at oral argument is hereby granted. Counsel for petitioner will be allocated 15 minutes for oral argument. Monica Knox, Assistant Federal Defender, will be allocated the remaining 15 minutes of petitioner's 30-minute allotted time for oral argument.
Jun 4 2008Cause argued and submitted
 
Aug 20 2008Notice of forthcoming opinion posted
 
Aug 21 2008Opinion filed: Judgment reversed
  of the Court of Appeal. Opinion by George, C.J. -- joined by Kennard, Werdegar, Moreno, JJ Concurring Opinion by Chin, J. -- joined by Baxter, Corrigan, JJ
Aug 28 2008Rehearing petition filed
  Richard Shaputis, petitioner by Marc Elliot Grossman, retained counsel
Aug 29 2008Time extended to consider modification or rehearing
  The time for granting or denying rehearing in the above-entitled case is hereby extended to and including November 19, 2008, or the date upon which rehearing is either granted or denied, whichever occurs first.
Sep 4 2008Request for extension of time filed
  to file answer to petition for rehearing to September 12, 2008. Deputy Attorney General Amanda Lloyd.
Sep 9 2008Extension of time granted
  On application of the Attorney General and good cause appearing, it is ordered that the time to serve and file respondent's answer to petition for rehearing is extended to and including September 12, 2008.
Sep 11 2008Answer to rehearing petition filed
  Governor Schwarzenegger and James D. Harley, Acting Warden of Avenal State Prison, Resps. Amanda LLoyd, Deputy Attorney General
Sep 17 2008Received:
  Petitioner's reply to answer to rehearing petition by Marc E. Grossman
Sep 18 2008Filed:
  Petitioner's Reply to Answer to Rehearing Petition by Marc E. Grossman, counsel
Oct 22 2008Rehearing denied
  Werdegar, J., was absent and did not participate.
Oct 22 2008Remittitur issued (criminal case)
 
Nov 3 2008Received:
  Acknowledgment of receipt for remittitur from Fourth District, Division One, signed for by Rita Rodriguez, Deputy Clerk

Briefs
Nov 26 2007Opening brief on the merits filed
 
Dec 24 2007Answer brief on the merits filed
 
Jan 14 2008Reply brief filed (case fully briefed)
 
Feb 21 2008Amicus curiae brief filed
 
Mar 10 2008Response to amicus curiae brief filed
 
If you'd like to submit a brief document to be included for this opinion, please submit an e-mail to the SCOCAL website
Jan 5, 2009
Annotated by diana teasland

Factual and procedural summary

In 1987, Richard Shaputis was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to prison for 15 years to life. Shaputis’s parole applications were denied, although he remained discipline-free and participated in self-help groups. In 2004, Shaputis filed a habeas corpus petition, claiming that the parole board had violated his due process rights by refusing to grant parole despite his exemplary behavior in prison. The California Court of Appeals granted relief, ordering the parole board to reconsider its decision. Thereafter, the parole board reluctantly found Shaputis suitable for parole.

In August 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed the parole board’s decision to grant parole, on grounds that Shaputis still posed an unreasonable danger to society. After filing another habeas corpus petition, the Court of Appeals granted relief for the second time, holding that no evidence suggested that Shaputis would still pose a public threat if released.

The Supreme Court of California granted review to determine the correct standard for reviewing parole board and gubernatorial decisions to deny inmates parole.

Written by James D. Lee