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Simple English definitions for legal terms
limiting instructions
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A quick definition of limiting instructions:
A limiting instruction is when a judge tells the jury to only use a piece of evidence for one specific reason and not for anything else. Sometimes, evidence can only be used against one person or for one purpose. Lawyers can ask the judge to give a limiting instruction to make sure the jury only uses the evidence the right way. If the judge doesn't give a proper instruction, it could be a mistake that makes the trial unfair.
A more thorough explanation:
A limiting instruction is a direction given by a judge to a jury to consider a piece of evidence for a specific purpose and ignore it for any other purpose. This means that the jury can only use the evidence in a certain way and not for anything else.
For example, if a witness testifies that the defendant has a criminal record, the judge may give a limiting instruction to the jury that they can only consider this evidence to determine the defendant's credibility as a witness and not to conclude that the defendant is guilty of the crime they are currently on trial for.
The purpose of a limiting instruction is to allow relevant and probative evidence to be admitted in court, even if it is only for a limited purpose. This is better than excluding the evidence altogether, as it may still be useful to the jury in making their decision.
If a judge fails to give a proper limiting instruction, it may be considered a reversible error, which means that the appellate court can overturn the trial court's decision if the instruction unfairly influenced the jury's verdict.