What obligations does a trial court have to instruct a jury on the essential elements of the charged offense?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Blanco, 275 Cal.Rptr.3d 558, 61 Cal.App.5th 278 (Cal. App. 2021):

"The trial court has a sua sponte duty to instruct the jury on the essential elements of the charged offense." ( People v. Merritt (2017) 2 Cal.5th 819, 824, 216 Cal.Rptr.3d 265, 392 P.3d 421.) "All criminal defendants have the right to a jury determination that the defendant is guilty of every element of the crime with which he is charged, beyond a reasonable doubt. " ( Ibid. )

[61 Cal.App.5th 284]

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