Find jury instructions using these databases. Access is restricted and requires a username and password.
Bloomberg Law - Choose Litigation dropdown tab → Litigation Resources → Scroll to down and use the "Find Jury Instructions" search box
Lexis - Choose the "Content" tab of the "Explore" menu → Jury Instructions
Westlaw - Choose the "Content types" tab → Secondary Sources → Jury Instructions
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The following definitions are derived from Black's Law Dictionary (10th ed., 2014), the Wolters Kluwer Bouvier Law Dictionary (2011) and other miscellaneous sources:
Jury Instruction – A direction or guideline that a judge gives a jury concerning the law of the case. A jury instruction is given by the judge to the jury to explain what is happening in the court, to explain the points of law relevant to the case, to explain certain aspects of the evidence presented and to assist the jurors in understanding their duties in reaching a verdict. Also called jury charge, charge and jury direction.
Cautionary Instruction – An instruction by the judge to the jurors to ensure that some aspect of the trial, some evidence introduced, testimony made, action involving a party or other personnel does not influence the jurors in an inappropriate way or encourage a mistaken or false impression. It may also be the judge's instruction regarding the influence of outside factors such as news reports or social media.
Model Jury Instruction – A form jury instruction usually approved by a state bar association or similar group regarding matters arising in a typical case. Courts usually accept model jury instructions as authoritative. Model instructions usually set forth the legal standards to be applied given claims and defenses for a particular case. The instructions must then be modified to fit the circumstances in that particular case. Also called pattern jury instruction, pattern jury charge, model jury charge, model jury direction, pattern jury direction.
Pattern Jury Instruction – See Model Jury Instruction
Preliminary Instruction – Instruction to the jury at the beginning of the trial to aid jurors in performing their duties. Generally, cautionary instructions, matters concerning the credibility of witnesses and definitions of terms are considered proper subjects for instructions to the jury before evidence is heard.
