Opinion ID: 1351510
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Judicial Hostility

Text: Defendant next identifies 11 instances in which he claims the trial court's comments were sarcastic and disparaging of defense counsel. The instances range from comments during voir dire to comments made when the court ruled upon objections to closing argument at the penalty phase. After examining the record, we are in full agreement with the People that, read in context, the judge's comments do not betray a bias against defense counsel. Indeed, in ruling on defendant's pretrial requests to discharge defense counsel, the trial court voiced considerable praise for counsel's abilities and performance. (24) In any case, there were no timely objections to any of the complained-of comments such as would have enabled the court to dispel any misunderstanding with appropriate admonitions. ( People v. Ramos (1982) 30 Cal.3d 553, 576 [180 Cal. Rptr. 266, 639 P.2d 908]; People v. Lanphear (1980) 26 Cal.3d 814, 836 [163 Cal. Rptr. 601, 608 P.2d 689].) Accordingly, any asserted error is waived on appeal. ( Ibid. )