P. v. Gonzalez
The People contend on appeal that the trial court, pursuant to section 1050, subdivision (a), should have given precedence to the instant case over civil cases; in particular, it should have used a courtroom designated as a civil-only department in the downtown Riverside courthouse and the Hawthorne civil courtrooms.[2] Moreover, the trial court should have contacted the family, probate, and other designated noncriminal courtrooms to inquire if they could hear the instant matter. The refusal to make such inquiry, the denial of the request to continue the case, and resultant dismissal constituted errors of law by the trial court, and the charges against defendant should be reinstated. Court find the trial court here did not abuse its discretion by dismissing defendants case based on the unavailability of any courtrooms to try the case and by denying a continuance. Court affirm the dismissal of the case.
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