What is the scope of a prosecutor's examination of a defendant regarding prior convictions?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Lovelace, D072550 (Cal. App. 2018):

6. A prosecutor's examination of a defendant regarding prior convictions is normally limited to information that appears on the face of the record of judgment, and may not include "circumstances 'surrounding' . . . and . . . 'comprising' the offense." (People v. McClellan (1969) 71 Cal.2d 793, 809 (McClellan), citations omitted.)

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