Opinion ID: 1215965
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Instruction to Disregard Consequences of Verdict

Text: (15) The jury was instructed, in standard language (CALJIC No. 1.00), to reach a just verdict, regardless of what the consequences of such verdict may be. The instruction has been considered inappropriate at the penalty phase (see People v. Brown, supra, 40 Cal.3d 512, 538, fn. 7), but it must be deemed harmless where, as here, the record indicates that the jury fully understood the grave consequences of its penalty decision. (See People v. Miranda (1987) 44 Cal.3d 57, 102, fn. 25 [241 Cal. Rptr. 594, 744 P.2d 1127].) In addition, we observe that the instruction does not ask the jurors to wholly ignore the consequences of their decision, but simply asks them to reach a just verdict regardless of the consequences of such a verdict.