CALCRIM No. 303. Limited Purpose Evidence in General

Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instructions (2023 edition)

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303.Limited Purpose Evidence in General
During the trial, certain evidence was admitted for a limited purpose.
You may consider that evidence only for that purpose and for no other.
New January 2006
BENCH NOTES
Instructional Duty
The court has no sua sponte duty to give an admonition limiting consideration of
evidence; however, it must be given on request. (Evid. Code, § 355; People v.
Simms (1970) 10 Cal.App.3d 299, 311 [89 Cal.Rptr. 1].)
AUTHORITY
Instructional Requirements. Evid. Code, § 355; People v. Simms (1970) 10
Cal.App.3d 299, 311 [89 Cal.Rptr. 1].
RELATED ISSUES
Timing of Instruction
The court has discretion to give limiting instructions at the time the evidence is
admitted or at the close of evidence. (People v. Dennis (1998) 17 Cal.4th 468,
533-534 [71 Cal.Rptr.2d 680, 950 P.2d 1035] [giving limiting instruction regarding
use of defendant’s statements to psychiatrist at close of all evidence did not result in
error].)
SECONDARY SOURCES
1 Witkin, California Evidence (5th ed. 2012) Circumstantial Evidence, §§ 32, 33, 35.
4 Millman, Sevilla & Tarlow, California Criminal Defense Practice, Ch. 83,
Evidence, § 83.04[3], Ch. 85, Submission to Jury and Verdict, § 85.02[2][b]
(Matthew Bender).
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