California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Gonzalez, 118 Cal.Rptr.3d 637 (Cal. App. 2011):
[23] "In reviewing a claim of error in jury instructions in a criminal case, this court must first consider the jury instructions as a whole to determine whether error has been committed. [Citations.] We may not judge a single jury instruction in artificial isolation, but must view it in the context of the charge and the entire trial record."
[118 Cal.Rptr.3d 653]
( People v. Moore (1996) 44 Cal.App.4th 1323, 1330-1331, 52 Cal.Rptr.2d 256; see also People v. Guiton (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1116, 1130, 17 Cal.Rptr.2d 365, 847 P.2d 45 [in examining the question of prejudice from instructional error, an appellate court should look to the entire record, including the evidence and arguments of counsel].)[118 Cal.Rptr.3d 653]
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