Foreman v. United States

FARRELL, Associate Judge:

In this appeal from his convictions for several counts of assault, including assault with a dangerous weapon (D.C. Code § 22-502 (1989)), and related offenses, appellant makes only one argument requiring extended discussion. 1 He contends that the trial judge’s modification of the standard jury instruction explaining the concept of “reasonable doubt” was constitutional error and reversible despite his failure to object to it at trial. Finding no plain error, we affirm.

The standard (“Redbook”) instruction on reasonable doubt in this jurisdiction states:

Reasonable…