The following excerpt is from U.S. v. Smith, 42 F.3d 1404 (9th Cir. 1994):
We review a trial court's decision to define reasonable doubt for abuse of discretion. United States v. Velasquez, 980 F.2d 1275, 1277-78 (9th Cir.1992), cert. denied, 113 S.Ct. 2979 (1993). We review the instruction de novo to determine whether it accurately stated the law. Id. at 1278.
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.