Opinion ID: 2599854
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Application of Chapman

Text: We held in People v. Brown (1988) 46 Cal.3d 432, 448, 250 Cal.Rptr. 604, 758 P.2d 1135, that state law error occurring at the penalty phase must be assessed on appeal by asking whether it is reasonably possible the error affected the verdict. Defendant contends that, because a life is at stake, we should instead apply the standard for federal constitutional error set forth in Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705, that is, that reversal is required unless it is shown the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We have held, however, that the two standards are the same in substance and effect. ( People v. Jones, supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 1264, fn. 11, 131 Cal.Rptr.2d 468, 64 P.3d 762; People v. Ochoa, supra, 19 Cal.4th at p. 479, 79 Cal.Rptr.2d 408, 966 P.2d 442.)