State v. Jackson

CAMERON, Justice.

We granted defendant's petition for review of a memorandum decision of the Court of Appeals, Division One, to answer only one question: whether it is error in a criminal case to fail to instruct the jury on reasonable doubt following closing arguments, when the jury has been previously instructed prior to the taking of evidence.

Defendant was charged with burglary and theft with one prior conviction. After the jury was selected and sworn, the trial judge gave preliminary instructions to the jury including an instruction on reasonable doubt. At the close of evidence, even…