jury instruction
Judge's legal directions
Jury instructions are directions a judge gives to jurors before they deliberate, explaining the relevant law and how to apply it to the evidence.
The instructions define legal standards—what constitutes reasonable doubt, how to weigh testimony, what elements must be proven for a conviction.
Attorneys often argue over proposed instructions, since their wording can shape verdicts: The defense objected to the jury instruction on self-defense.
- statutory lawLegislature-made legal rules
- lawBinding principle or regulation
- mitigating factorsCircumstances reducing culpability
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- case lawJudge-made legal doctrine
deliberation · burden of proof · reasonable doubt · beyond reasonable doubt · moral reasoning · cognitive load · aggravating factors · groupthink · legal definitions · sentencing guidelines · judge · precedent · courtroom protocol · due process · objection handling · criminal trial · civil case · death penalty
jury instructionclosing arguments
Attorney's final jury address
bench trial · opening statements · settlement · plea deal · witness testimony
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