California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Scott, A159335 (Cal. App. 2020):
Section 1138 requires trial courts to respond to questions through which the jury "desire[s] to be informed on any point of law arising in the case. . . ." In discharging this obligation, trial courts must "help the jury understand the legal principles it is asked to apply." (People v. Beardslee (1991) 53 Cal.3d 68, 97.)
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