Opinion ID: 1351466
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Appeal to Emotion

Text: In his closing argument the prosecutor made several references to the jury as the conscience of the community, and asked for the death penalty on the ground, inter alia, that it would show that society has the courage to impose a just punishment in this case. (53) Defendant now contends such remarks constituted an impermissible appeal to the emotions of the jury. He failed to object to the remarks when they were made, however, and a timely admonition would have cured any prejudice they might have caused. He therefore cannot complain of the remarks on appeal. ( People v. Green, supra, 27 Cal.3d at p. 34.) In any event, we recently held that a similar argument was not improper. ( People v. Gordon, supra, 50 Cal.3d 1223, 1268-1269.)