Does a jury have a duty to instruct sua sponte on the principles of law that are closely and openly connected with the facts before the jury?

California, United States of America

The following excerpt is from People v. Simon, 1 Cal.5th 98, 204 Cal.Rptr.3d 380, 375 P.3d 1 (Cal. 2016):

Nonetheless, a trial court has a duty to instruct sua sponte on those general principles of law that are closely and openly connected with the facts before the court and necessary for the jury's understanding of the case. (People v. Price (1991) 1 Cal.4th 324, 442, 3 Cal.Rptr.2d 106, 821 P.2d 610.)
Simon concedes that he failed to request a clarifying jury instruction pertaining to victim impact evidence. His claim, hence, is forfeited. (See People v. Russell, supra, 50 Cal.4th at p. 1273, 117 Cal.Rptr.3d 615, 242 P.3d 68.)

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