What is an instruction to the jury?

An instruction to the jury is a statement that the judge reads to a jury during a trial to help them understand the law they must follow when deciding the case. In Hawaii, jurors must listen to the judge’s instructions carefully and follow them in order to reach a verdict. The instruction will explain the law they must consider for the case and define the facts that must be proven to reach a verdict. In criminal cases, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the crime they are charged with. In civil cases, the burden of proof is lower and the plaintiff must prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence. The jury must also be instructed on the elements of the crime or the same legal principles that must be proven. This ensures that the jury comes to a fair and unbiased decision. The judge also provides instructions on the types of questions or deliberations that the jury is not allowed to consider, such as conversations they may have had amongst themselves or outside evidence that was not presented in court. The jury must not rely on such matters and should remain impartial and objective when considering the facts.

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