v. Zadra No. 15SC262, People v. Adams

Citations

• 2017 CO 18
• 389 P.3d 885

Syllabus

Plain Error Review—Double Jeopardy. These two cases present the issues of whether double jeopardy claims can be raised for the first time on direct appeal and, if so, what standard of review applies. The Supreme Court addressed the same issues in four cases also decided on February 27 (consolidated as Reyna-Abarca v. People, 2017 CO 15, ___ P.3d ___). There, the Court concluded that unpreserved double jeopardy claims can be raised for the first time on appeal and that appellate courts should ordinarily review such claims for plain error. Applying that ruling here, the Court concluded that the divisions in People v. Zadra, 2013 COA 140, ___ P.3d ___, and People v. Adams, No. 12CA339 (Colo.App. Mar. 12, 2015), correctly conducted plain error review of defendants' unpreserved double jeopardy claims and merged certain of defendants' convictions. Accordingly, the Court affirmed the judgments in both cases.