What are jury instructions?

Jury instructions are directions or instructions given by a judge to a jury at the conclusion of a trial. Jury instructions offer guidance to the jury on how to proceed in considering the facts of the case. In Delaware, jury instructions are given to the jury in summary form, generally covering the applicable law and defining the issues for the jury to decide. The judge will explain those instructions to the jury prior to them beginning their deliberation. Jury instructions are designed to provide clarity and uniformity to the jury in reaching a verdict. Every jurisdiction has their own set of jury instructions that address the law in their respective state and are tailored to the case in question. In Delaware, the instructions are adopted from the Delaware Criminal Jury Instructions and Delaware Civil Jury Instructions. Jury instructions come in the form of specific questions that must be answered in order to reach a verdict; they are designed to ensure fairness in the justice system by preventing inconsistent verdicts or the jury’s decision being influenced by the jury’s subjective beliefs. Ultimately, jurors are obligated to follow the instructions issued by the judge, which will help guide them in reaching a fair decision based on the evidence presented.

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