California Criminal Jury Instructions
CALCRIM
Volume I
HOMICIDE
Series 700
K. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
(i) General Instructions

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BENCH NOTES

Instructional Duty

The court has a sua sponte duty to instruct the jury not to consider penalty or punishment when deciding on the special circumstances or other charges. (People v. Robertson (1982) 33 Cal.3d 21, 36 [188 Cal.Rptr. 77, 655 P.2d 279]; People v. Holt (1984) 37 Cal.3d 436, 458 [208 Cal.Rptr. 547, 690 P.2d 1207] [jury may not consider punishment in deciding on special circumstances].)

AUTHORITY

·            Duty to Instruct. People v. Robertson (1982) 33 Cal.3d 21, 36 [188 Cal.Rptr. 77, 655 P.2d 279].

Jury May Not Consider Punishment. People v. Holt (1984) 37 Cal.3d 436, 458.