In what circumstances will a jury be required to define a common law term?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Forbes, 42 Cal.App.4th 599, 49 Cal.Rptr.2d 836 (Cal. App. 1996):
In our estimation, the rule likewise does not mean that commonly understood terms must be defined for a jury. "The law is settled that when terms have no technical meaning peculiar to the law, but are commonly understood by those familiar with the English language, instructions as to their meaning are not required." (People v. Anderson (1966) 64 Cal.2d 633, 639, 51 Cal.Rptr. 238, 414 P.2d 366.)
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