Opinion ID: 844217
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Constitutionality of Reference to the Prosecution as the People

Text: (21) Defendant contends that references during his trial to the prosecution as the People or as representing the Peopleincluding comments by the court and the prosecutor, references in the jury instructions, and the identification of exhibits as People's Exhibitsrendered his trial fundamentally unfair, in violation of the due process clauses of the state and federal Constitutions. Because defendant never objected at trial to references to the identification of the prosecution as the People, he has forfeited the claim on appeal. In any event, reference to the prosecution as the People does not violate due process. ( People v. Whisenhunt (2008) 44 Cal.4th 174, 223 [79 Cal.Rptr.3d 125, 186 P.3d 496]; People v. Lewis and Oliver (2006) 39 Cal.4th 970, 1068 [47 Cal.Rptr.3d 467, 140 P.3d 775]; People v. Black (2003) 114 Cal.App.4th 830, 832-834 [7 Cal.Rptr.3d 902].)