| CONTEMPT |
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| Contempt is defined as conduct that obstructs or tends to obstruct the proper administration of justice. Contempt also includes an act that constitutes disrespectful conduct towards a court. In order to constitute contempt, the act itself must be disrespectful. A person's intent or purpose is not relevant. The fact that the conduct may be irritating to the court does not constitute contempt. More... |
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| OFFENSES INVOLVING PUBLIC SERVANTS |
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| A public servant is a governmental officer, employee, or agent, a juror or a grand juror, an arbitrator or a referee, an attorney or a notary public, a political party official or a political candidate, or anyone who is performing a governmental function. A person is a public servant even if he or she has only been elected to office and has not assumed the duties of his or her office. More... |
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| Joinder of Defendants |
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| A defendant or the prosecution may file a motion for a joinder of defendants. It is within the trial court's discretion to grant or deny the motion for joinder. The party seeking the joinder must show that the defendants participated in the same act or transaction or in the same series of transactions. Joinder of defendants requires more than simply showing that the defendants committed similar offenses. The standard for joining defendants is satisfied if the defendants shared a common purpose or scheme and if there was an overlap in their acts. More... |
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| REQUESTS FOR JURY INSTRUCTIONS |
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| Both the prosecution and a defendant have a right to request that certain instructions be submitted to a jury when a trial court charges the jury. A request for the instructions must be made in writing and must be presented to the trial court prior to the trial court's charge to the jury. The request may also be dictated to a court reporter in the presence of the trial court and counsel for both parties. More... |
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| DEFENSE OF A THIRD PERSON |
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| A defendant is entitled to use force or deadly force against another person in order to protect a third person from the other person. The defendant must show that he or she reasonably believed that the use of force was necessary to protect the third person.
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