Common Law

ONE OF THE STATUTES of the State of California (Section 27491 of the California Government Code) declares, "It shall be the duty of the coroner to investigate, or cause to be investigated, the cause of death of any person reported to the coroner as having been killed by violence, or who has suddenly died under such circumstances as to afford a reasonable ground to suspect that his death has been occasioned by the act of another by criminal means, or who has committed suicide." In addition to this basic statement, there is much more to this section of the California Government Code. It establishes the manner in which the investigations may be conducted, and it outlines the powers of the coroner in the effective pursuit of his duties. Together with similar sections of the codes of the several counties, it further authorizes and defines the coroner's official activities. While this codification of the duties of the coroner is relatively new in California,* the office itself and...