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Simple English definitions for legal terms
mandatory instruction
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A quick definition of mandatory instruction:
A mandatory instruction is a direction given by a judge to a jury about the law of a case. It tells the jury what they must do and what they cannot do. Sometimes, if the jury has a question about the evidence or the law, the judge will give them an additional instruction. There are different types of instructions, such as affirmative instructions that remove an issue from the jury's consideration, cautionary instructions that tell the jury to disregard certain evidence, and model jury instructions that are approved by a state bar association.A more thorough explanation:
Definition: A mandatory instruction is a direction or guideline that a judge gives to a jury about the law of the case. It requires the jury to find for one party and against the other if the jury determines that, based on a preponderance of the evidence, a given set of facts exists. It is also known as a binding instruction.
Examples:
- If the jury finds that the defendant was driving under the influence of alcohol and caused the accident, then they must find him guilty of vehicular manslaughter. This is a mandatory instruction because it requires the jury to find the defendant guilty if they believe the given set of facts.
- If the jury finds that the plaintiff did not prove that the defendant breached their duty of care, then they must find the defendant not liable. This is another example of a mandatory instruction because it requires the jury to find for the defendant if they believe the given set of facts.
These examples illustrate how a mandatory instruction guides the jury's decision-making process by requiring them to find for one party and against the other based on a specific set of facts.