Further Instructions - National Judicial Institute

Note: Specimen jury instructions serve as a template that trial judges must adapt to the particular circumstances of each trial, not simply read out in whole. They are not designed to be delivered "as-is." More information about the use of specimen instructions is found in the Preface and A Note to Users, which you can find here.

12.4 Further Instructions

(Last revised June 2012)

[1] When you retire to the jury room, do not begin deliberating until the (specify: sheriff, constable or other) tells you to do so. I need to consult with the lawyers to see if I have overlooked anything. If so, I will call you back in for further instructions.

(If the jury is recalled, state:)

[2] I have some further instructions to give you. Unless I tell you otherwise, do not consider these further instructions to be any more or less important than anything else I have said about the law. All the legal instructions, whenever they may be given, are of equal importance.