Opinion ID: 2598792
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Acquittal First Instructions

Text: The court instructed the jury on first and second degree murder and manslaughter, explaining that the court could not accept a guilty verdict on second degree murder unless the jury first unanimously found defendant not guilty of first degree murder, and similarly could not accept a manslaughter verdict without an initial unanimous finding that he was not guilty of first or second degree murder. (CALJIC Nos. 8.75, 17.10.) Defendant now argues these instructions violated his constitutional right to full consideration of all lesser offenses, because [a] jury which is deadlocked on the charged offense must be permitted to render a verdict (either conviction or acquittal) on a lesser offense, if they are able to do so. As the Attorney General correctly observes, we have frequently rejected this and similar contentions. ( People v. Riel, supra, 22 Cal.4th at pp. 1200-1201, 96 Cal.Rptr.2d 1, 998 P.2d 969; see People v. Fields (1996) 13 Cal.4th 289, 308-311, 52 Cal.Rptr.2d 282, 914 P.2d 832; People v. Mickey (1991) 54 Cal.3d 612, 672-673, 286 Cal.Rptr. 801, 818 P.2d 84.) We see no reason for reconsidering these decisions.