how to explain reasonable doubt to a jury

The primary reasons for instructing the jury are (i) to clarify the issues, (ii) eliminate extraneous matters, and (iii) explain the applicable law. 325 (2018) (in case where, at the time, no pattery jury instruction existed regarding the affirmative defense at issue but the facts at trial supported the defense, the trial court was obligated to give a proper instruction “in accordance with the established elements of that defense”). Similarly, if there are no pattern instructions available for an affirmative defense or any other legal matter arising in the case, the prosecutor should draft proposed instructions for that issue as well. If there are no pattern instructions available for a particular offense, the prosecutor should draft a proposed instruction that tracks the language of the statute and sets forth each of the elements the state has to prove and be prepared to submit that proposed instruction in writing to the judge at the charge conference. These instructions can be accessed and searched online here.

Pattern jury instructions are available for the vast majority of criminal and motor vehicle offenses, affirmative defenses, evidentiary considerations, and other related matters.

How to explain reasonable doubt to a jury