What is the test for instructing a trial court on a defense?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Hill, B289458 (Cal. App. 2020):
A trial court must instruct, with or without a request, on general principles of law relevant to the issues raised in a criminal case. (People v. Koontz (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1041, 1085.) The trial court must sua sponte instruct on a defense "if it appears that the [appellant] is relying on such a defense, or if
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Other Questions
Can an appellant seek review of an instruction in the Superior Court of Appeal where the original instruction was found to have made errors that could have been cured in the trial court? (California, United States of America)
Is it instructional error to instruct a jury in a trial trial on a defense that is not relevant to the facts of the case? (California, United States of America)
Does a trial court have to instruct on unreasonable self-defense or defense of others? (California, United States of America)
When a defendant makes a mid-trial motion to revoke his self represented status and have standby counsel appointed for the remainder of the trial, does the trial court have a duty to manage the trial? (California, United States of America)
Does trial counsel shirk his constitutional responsibility to provide competent counsel by failing to ask the court to instruct on a bogus self-defense defense? (California, United States of America)
Is a trial court required to instruct sua sponte on any defense including self-defense? (California, United States of America)
What is the standard of review applied by appellate courts to a decision by a trial court to instruct or not to instruct a jury? (California, United States of America)
What is a trial court's duty to instruct sua sponte on certain self-defense defenses? (California, United States of America)
When will a trial court instruct the jury on the defense of unconsciousness and self-defense in a case of involuntary manslaughter? (California, United States of America)
Is there any instructional error in general criminal intent instruction used by the trial court to include counts 4 and 7 in the General Criminal intent instruction? (California, United States of America)
