context: In cases where a defendant has complained about a definition that was given, although we have spoken of "this circuit's rule against elaborating on the meaning of 'reasonable doubt' ..." And although we have sometimes found error in such situations, we have not reversed on this ground alone.
citation_a.signal: see
citation_a.identifier: 756 F.2d 329, 333
citation_a.parenthetical: holding the unsolicited giving of the following definition to be harmless error: "proof of such a convincing character that you would be willing to rely upon it without hesitation in your most important affairs of your own" [sic]
citation_a.sentence: See United States v. Moss, 756 F.2d 329, 333 (4th Cir.1985) (holding the unsolicited giving of the following definition to be harmless error: “proof of such a convincing character that you would be willing to rely upon it without hesitation in your most important affairs of your own” [sic]); Murphy v. Holland, 776 F.2d 470, 475-78 (4th Cir.1985) (finding harmless error in unsolicited definition), vacated on other grounds, 475 U.S. 1138, 106 S.Ct. 1787, 90 L.Ed.2d 334 (1986); Love, 767 F.2d at 1060 (finding no plain error in unsolicited instruction); but see United States v. Russell, 971 F.2d 1098, 1108 (4th Cir.1992) (declaring as “frivolous” claim that it was error to give pattern jury instruction “approved” in Moss after request by jury), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 1013, 122 L.Ed.2d 161 (1993).
citation_b.signal: but see
citation_b.parenthetical: declaring as "frivolous" claim that it was error to give pattern jury instruction "approved" in Moss after request by jury
citation_b.sentence: See United States v. Moss, 756 F.2d 329, 333 (4th Cir.1985) (holding the unsolicited giving of the following definition to be harmless error: “proof of such a convincing character that you would be willing to rely upon it without hesitation in your most important affairs of your own” [sic]); Murphy v. Holland, 776 F.2d 470, 475-78 (4th Cir.1985) (finding harmless error in unsolicited definition), vacated on other grounds, 475 U.S. 1138, 106 S.Ct. 1787, 90 L.Ed.2d 334 (1986); Love, 767 F.2d at 1060 (finding no plain error in unsolicited instruction); but see United States v. Russell, 971 F.2d 1098, 1108 (4th Cir.1992) (declaring as “frivolous” claim that it was error to give pattern jury instruction “approved” in Moss after request by jury), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 113 S.Ct. 1013, 122 L.Ed.2d 161 (1993).