Return to Checklists Table of Contents
CHK III
A. Terms With A Specialized Or Technical Legal Meaning
See also FORECITE PG V(A)(8).
B. Definition May Be Required Of Non-Technical Term If Jury Expresses Lack Of Understanding
While commonly understood terms need not be defined for the jury, if the jury expresses a lack of such “common understanding”, the court’s underlying obligation to assure that the jury understands its duties (see FORECITE PG IX(D)(1) and (2)); see also People v. Kirkpatrick (94) 7 C4th 988, 1025 [30 CR2d 818], Mosk, concurring) suggests that the term should be further defined.
For example, in People v. Solis (2001) 90 CA4th 1002 [109 CR2d 464], the jury asked for a definition of “sustained” fear as used in CJ 9.94. The Solis court found that the court’s refusal to define the term was error.
See FORECITE PG IX(D)(2).
C. Reference To Jury Service Materials When A Term Is Not Defined
If a term is not defined in the instructions the common dictionary definition should control. However, in some cases the jury may have been given jury service information which includes definitions of terms. (See e.g., “A Guide to California Jury Service” located at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/jury.) If the term is defined in the jury service materials it may be possible to argue that the jury relied on that definition at trial.
D. Technical Terms: Checklist
This Checklist provides examples of technical terms, as well as other terms, along with a notation of whether they require definition:
“accident” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Jiminez (92) 11 CA4th 1611, 1628 [15 CR2d 268]; People v. Anderson (66) 64 C2d 633, 639 [51 CR 238]
“accomplice” — DEFINITION REQUIRED – People v. Gordon (1973) 10 CA3d 460, 466; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(a)
“acting together” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Jones (71) 19 CA3d 437, 446-47 [96 CR 795]
“addict” “addicted” “addiction” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — “Neither ‘addicted to’ nor ‘imminent danger of becoming addicted’ are technical terms of art.” — In re David de la O (63) 59 C2d 128, 153 [28 CR 489]
“addicted” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — CJ 12.45
“aggravating” “mitigating” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Kirkpatrick (94) 7 CA4th 988, 1018 [30 CR2d 818]
“aid” and “abet” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Ponce (50) 96 CA2d 327, 331 [215 P2d 75]
“amenable to medical treatment” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Stewart (79) 89 CA3d 992, 999 [153 CR 242]
“annoy and molest” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — CJ 16.440
“assault”; “assault with a deadly weapon” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Valenzuela (85) 175 CA3d 381, 393 [222 CR 405]; People v. McElheny (82) 137 CA3d 396, 403 [187 CR 39]
“assist” (in CJ 4.10)—DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED—See People v. Dunkle (2005) 36 CA4th 861, 894; see also People v. Coffman and Marlow (2004) 34 CA4th 1, 122.
“bet” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Fontes (70) 7 CA3d 650, 653 [86 CR 790]
“bomb” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Quinn (76) 57 CA3d 251, 259 [129 CR 139]; see also People v. Dimitrov (95) 33 CA4th 18, 25-26 [39 CR2d 257].
“carry” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Overturf (76) 64 CA3d Supp 1, 6-7 [134 CR 769]
“clear and present danger” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Jones (71) 19 CA3d 437, 446-47 [96 CR 795]
“cohabitating” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — (People v. Moore (1996) 44 CA4th 1323; People v. Holifield (1988) 205 CA3d 993, 1001; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(b) § 2.126(b).)
“commercial purposes” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — as used in FG 8305, is a commonly understood term which does not require additional definition — People v. Tatman (93) 20 CA4th 1, 13 [24 CR2d 480]
“common scheme or plan” in PC 12022.6(b) — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Green (2011) 197 CA4th 1485.
“confinement in the state prison without possibility of parole” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Bonin (88) 46 CA3d 659, 697 [250 CR 687]
“consent” (re: generally) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(c)(i)
“consent” (re: extortion) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(c)(ii)
“consent” (re: rape, sodomy, sexual penetration, or oral copulation) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(c)(iii)
“consent” (re: kidnapping) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Donell (1973) 32 CA3d 613, 617; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(c)(iv)
“consequences: re premeditation and deliberation” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Cordero (89) 216 CA3d 275, 282-84 [264 CR 774]
“conspiracy” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Earnest (75) 53 CA3d 734, 745 [126 CR 107]
“conspiracy” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED WHEN USED IN COMMON AND NONTECHNICAL SENSE — People v. Williams (88) 45 CA3d 1268, 1314-15 [248 CR 834]
“conspiracy” (if hearsay admitted under EC 1223) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Cabral (1975) 51 CA3d 707; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(d)
“corruptly” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(e)
“creditor-debtor relationship” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Watson (71) 15 CA3d 28, 39 [92 CR 860]
“criminal intent” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Hawkins (68) 268 CA2d 99, 106 [73 CR 748]
“criminal or gross negligence” (when CJ 4.45 is given on the defense of accident or misfortune) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Thurmond (1985) 175 CA3d 865; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(f)
“culpable negligence” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Thurmond (85) 175 CA3d 865, 872 [221 CR 292]
“d-cocaine” and “l-cocaine” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Aston (84) 162 CA3d 658 [208 CR 754]
“dangerous” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Kirk (75) 49 CA3d 765, 769 [122 CR 653]
“deadly weapon” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Caberera (1930) 104 CA 414; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(g). However, “deadly weapon” need not be defined in a PC 417.8 case [drawing or exhibiting deadly weapon with intent to resist or prevent arrest by peace officer] when the instrument used is a knife with an open blade, which lay people could readily determine to be deadly. (People v. Pruett (1997) 57 CA4th 77, 86
“device designed to accelerate a fire” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — As used in PC 451.1(a)(5) means a piece of equipment or a mechanism intended, or devised , to hasten or increase the progress of the fire. California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(h); People v. Andrade (2000) 85 CA4th 579, 587 [failure to instruct was error, but harmless]
“dirk” or “dagger” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Plumlee (2008) 166 CA4th 935, 941 [closed switchblade is dirk or dagger]; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(i) § 2.126(i)
“distinctively marked” police vehicle — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Hudson (2006) 38 CA4th 1002; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(j)
“drive” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — See FORECITE F 12.60b.
“driver” or “driving” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(k)
“duress” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Pitmon (1985) 170 CA3d 38, 52; but see California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.129(a) [must be given if there is evidence to support the defense of duress]; see People v. Heath (1989) 207 CA3d 892 [court extensively discusses differences between duress defense and necessity defense]
“efficient intervening cause” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Hebert (64) 228 CA2d 514, 520-21 [39 CR 539]
“endangered” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Figueroa (85) 167 CA3d 981 [213 CR 676]
“entrapment” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.130 [must be given if there is evidence to support the defense of entrapment]; People v. Barraza (1979) 23 CA3d 675, 686
“escape” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Robinson (68) 266 CA2d 261, 268 [72 CR 33]
“explosive” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — see FORECITE F 8.81.4a; PC 190.2(a)(4); 190.2(b)
“extortion” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Hill (83) 141 CA3d 661, 668 [190 CR 628]
“extortion: re aggravated kidnap (PC 209)” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Hill (83) 141 CA3d 661, 668 [190 CR 628]
“fear” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Anderson (66) 64 CA2d 633, 639 [541 CR 238]
“felonious intent” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Hawkins (68) 268 CA2d 99, 106 [73 CR 748]
“felony” –DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Shields (90) 222 CA3d 1, 4-5 [271 CR 228]
“financial gain” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Howard (88) 44 CA3d 375, 408-10 [243 CR 842]; People v. Bigelow (84) 37 CA3d 731, 751 [209 CR 328]; People v. Noguera (92) 4 CA4th 599, 636 [15 CR2d 400]
“firearm” or “armed with firearm” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Smith (1992) 9 CA4th 196, 204; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(l)
“firefighter” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(m)
“force – no physical harm shown” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Pitmon (85) 170 CA3d 38, 52 [216 CR 221]
“force – physical harm shown” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Montero (86) 185 CA3d 415, 432 [229 CR 750]; People v. Anderson (66) 64 CA2d 633, 639 [51 CR 238]
“force or fear” – re robbery — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Mungia (91) 234 CA3d 1703, 1708-09 [286 CR 394]
“fraud” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Hardy (92) 2 CA4th 86, 153 [5 CR2d 796]
“good faith” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Trapps (84) 158 CA3d 265, 268-69 [204 CR 541]
“great bodily harm” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Shields (90) 222 CA3d 1, 4-5 [271 CR 228]
“impeach” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Shannon (56) 147 CA2d 300, 305 [305 P2d 101]
“intoxication” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Salazar (77) 74 CA3d 875, 884 [141 CR 753]
“juvenile proceeding” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — see FORECITE F 8.81.10 n2
“knowingly” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — Note: Use CALJIC 12.70 for VC 20001-VC 20004 offenses. Do not use CALJIC 1.21 in Medi-Cal fraud cases under WI 14107. People v. Gregory (1990) 217 CA3d 665, 680; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(n)
“land” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — CJ 16.330
“lawful custody” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Jones (71) 19 CA3d 437, 446-47 [96 CR 795]
“legitimate” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Woodward (2004) 116 CA4th 821
“lewd and dissolute” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — CJ 16.420
“likelihood” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Serrano (92) 11 CA4th 1672, 1676 [15 CR2d 305]
“maintaining” and “opening”: re opening and maintaining a place to sell drugs — DEFINITION REQUIRED — HS 11366; People v. Shoals (92) 8 CA4th 475, 489 [10 CR2d 296]
“malice” or “maliciously” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(o) [use CJ 8.11 in murder trials]
“manufacture” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Combs (85) 165 CA3d 422, 427 [211 CR 617]
“materiality” (when crime is perjury) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Feinberg (1997) 51 CA4th 1566, 1575; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(p)
“murder” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Shields (90) 222 CA3d 1, 4-5 [271 CR 228]
“mutual combat” – DEFINITION REQUIRED – See People v. Ross (2007) 155 CA4th 1033, 1044.
“natural and continuous” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Morse (92) 2 CA4th 620, 643-44 [3 CR2d 343]
“obscene” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Hernandez (91) 231 CA3d 1376, 1384 [283 CR 81]
“official act” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Mayfield (97) 14 CA4th 668, 773 [60 CR2d 1].
“opening or maintaining” (place for selling or distributing narcotics when HS 11366 is charged) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Shoals (1992) 8 CA4th 475, 489-91
“peace officer” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Lara (1994) 30 CA4th 658, 668; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(q)
“perpetrate” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Chavez (51) 37 C2d 656, 668 [234 P2d 632]
“possession” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(r) [when crime is possession of controlled substance, use CALJICA 12.00]
“prevented from resisting” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(s) [defined for rape, sodomy, forcible sexual penetration, and oral copulation
“principals” and “aiding and abetting” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Beeman (1984) 35 CA3d 547; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(t)
“proximate cause” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(u) [see § 2.150]; People v. Bernhardt (1963) 222 CA2d 567, 590 [court should define proximate cause if element of the crime]
“proximate causation” (per VC 2800.2 and VC 23153(a)) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Bismillah DEPUBLISHED (94) 21 CA4th 1525, 1530 [26 CR2d 746]
“public place” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — CJ 16.401 — People v. Belanger (66) 243 CA2d 654, 657 [52 CR 660]
“ransom” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Hill (83) 141 CA3d 661, 668 [190 CR 628]
“reasonable” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Trapps (84) 158 CA3d 265, 268-69 [204 CR 541]
“reasonable doubt” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Soldavini (1941) 45 CA2d 460; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(v) [see CALJIC, Appendix B (2012)]
“reckless indifference to human life” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Estrada (95) 11 CA4th 568, 578 [46 CR2d 586]; but see, FORECITE F 8.80.1a, et seq., FORECITE F 8.81.17 n9
“rectal area” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Cantrell (92) 7 CA4th 523, 543 [9 CR2d 188]
“recurring access” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Rodriguez (2002) 28 C4th 543 [122 CR2d 348].
“relation of trust and confidence re: embezzlement” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — see FORECITE F 14.07a
“sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual exploitation” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(w) [PC 11165.1]
“sex offense” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Dasher (88) 198 CA3d 28 [243 CR 486]
“sexual offense” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Dasher (88) 198 CA3d 28, 35 [243 CR 486]
“specific intent to defraud” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Hardy (92) 2 CA4th 86, 153 [5 CR2d 796]
“speeding” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(x); People v. Ellis (1999) 69 CA4th 1334 [when it is the act forbidden by law in felony DUI charge]; see VC 22350
“stranger” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Forbis (96) 42 CA4th 599, 605 [49 CR2d 836]
“street”, “highway”, “roadway” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — CJ 16.602
“substantial” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Serrano (92) 11 CA4th 1672, 1676 [15 CR2d 305]
“supervening cause” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Hebert (64) 228 CA2d 514, 520-21 [39 CR 539]
“sustained fear” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Ramirez DEPUBLISHED (97) 54 CA4th 888, 900 [62 CR2d 644]
“tampering association” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — CJ 16.620
“temporary safety” re: robbery/felony murder — DEFINITION REQUIRED — See FORECITE F 8.21.1
“transports” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Cortez (85) 166 CA3d 994, 999 [212 CR 692]; People v. Eastman (93) 13 CA4th 668, 673 [16 CR2d 608]
“traumatic condition” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Burns (1948) 88 CA2d 867, 874; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(y)
“unconscious” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Clark (93) 5 CA4th 950, 1121 [22 CR2d 689]: Supreme Court assumes without deciding that “unconscious” requires definition
“under the influence” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Enriquez (96) 42 CA4th 661 [49 CR2d 710].)
“unlawful” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Lilliock (68) 265 CA2d 419, 428-29 [71 CR 434]: is a legal term as to which the jury needs guidance from the court; see also Barouh v. Haberman (94) 26 CA4th 40, 45 [31 CR2d 259]
“unlawful intent” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Hawkins (68) 268 CA2d 99, 106 [73 CR 748]
“urging” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Jones (71) 19 CA3d 437, 446-47 [96 CR 795]
“use” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — CJ 16.060
“viable”; “viability” (re: fetus murder) — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Smith (87) 188 CA3d 1495, 1514 [234 CR 142]; People v. Davis (94) 7 CA4th 797, 813-14 [30 CR2d 50]
“wanton” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Richie (94) 28 CA4th 1347, 1361 [34 CR2d 200]
“while engaged in” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Rowland (92) 4 C4th 238 [14 CR2d 377]; People v. Bonin (88) 46 CA3d 659, 698 [250 CR 687]
“willful” — DEFINITION NOT REQUIRED — People v. Trapps (84) 158 CA3d 265, 269 [204 CR 541]; People v. Brucker (83) 148 CA3d 230, 239 [195 CR 808]; see also People v. Richie (94) 28 CA4th 1347, 1361 [34 CR2d 200]; but see FORECITE F 1.20a and “willfully” below.
“willfully” — DEFINITION REQUIRED — People v. Peabody (1975) 46 CA3d 43, 49; California Mandatory Criminal Jury Instruction Handbook (CJER) (2013) § 2.128(z) [should not be given for specific intent crimes. Willful instruction is incomplete for purposes of violation of PC 290 (sex offender registration) because it fails to require actual knowledge of the registration requirement; People v. Garcia (2001) 25 CA4th 744, 754; People v. Jackson (2003) 109 CA4th 1625, 1634]
