Whenever a court makes and causes to be entered an order appointing a day upon which a judgment of death shall be executed upon a defendant, the warden of the state prison to whom such defendant has been delivered for execution or, if the defendant is a female, the warden of the Central California Women’s Facility, shall notify the Director of Corrections who shall thereupon select and appoint three alienists, all of whom must be from the medical staffs of the Department of Corrections, to examine the defendant, under the judgment of death, and investigate his or her sanity. It is the duty of the alienists so selected and appointed to examine such defendant and investigate his or her sanity, and to report their opinions and conclusions thereon, in writing, to the Governor, to the warden of the prison at which the execution is to take place, or, if the defendant is female, the warden of the Central California Women’s Facility, at least 20 days prior to the day appointed for the execution of the judgment of death upon the defendant. The warden shall furnish a copy of the report to counsel for the defendant upon his or her request.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 279, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 2006.)