CA SCA27

Amends California Constitution to allow the Supreme Court to transfer death penalty appeals to courts of appeal, removing the current constitutional prohibition on such transfers.

Requires the Supreme Court to review any court of appeal decision on a transferred death penalty case that affirms or reverses the judgment of death.

Permits the Supreme Court to summarily affirm a court of appeal's decision if it finds no error affecting the judgment, no need for uniformity of decision, and no important questions of law requiring resolution.

Requires the Supreme Court to hold oral argument and issue a written decision with stated reasons when summary affirmance is determined to be inappropriate for death penalty appeals.

Requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of the Legislature and approval by California voters for adoption.