Legal Definitions - additional instruction

An additional instruction refers to a supplementary legal explanation or clarification provided by a judge to a juryafter the jury has already begun its deliberations. This typically occurs when the jury sends a note to the judge indicating confusion about a point of law, a piece of evidence, or a procedural matter, and requests further guidance.

The purpose of an additional instruction is to help the jury understand the legal principles or factual considerations relevant to the case more clearly, resolve any ambiguities, or address specific questions they have encountered during their discussions, without influencing their independent factual findings.

• Example 1: Clarifying a Legal Standard

  In a criminal trial for theft, the jury sends a note to the judge stating they are confused about the legal definition of "intent to permanently deprive." They understand the general concept but are unsure how it applies to a situation where the defendant claims they only borrowed the item temporarily. The judge then calls the jury back into the courtroom and provides an additional instruction, explaining in more detail the legal nuances of "intent to permanently deprive" as it relates to temporary possession versus outright taking, ensuring they apply the correct legal standard to the evidence presented.

  This illustrates an additional instruction because the judge is providing further legal guidance on a specific point of law that the jury found confusing, after deliberations had already started.

• Example 2: Interpreting Evidence

  During deliberations in a civil lawsuit concerning a breach of contract, the jury sends a question to the judge asking whether a particular email exchange between the parties should be considered a binding agreement or merely a negotiation. They are struggling to apply the initial instructions on contract formation to this specific piece of evidence. The judge, after consulting with the attorneys, issues an additional instruction clarifying the legal criteria for determining when an exchange of communications constitutes a binding offer and acceptance, without commenting on the facts of the email itself.

  This demonstrates an additional instruction as the judge is offering clarification on how to legally interpret a specific piece of evidence in light of the law, in response to the jury's query during deliberations.

• Example 3: Procedural Guidance

  In a complex trial involving multiple charges against a single defendant, the jury informs the judge that they have reached a unanimous verdict on two of the three charges but are deadlocked on the third. They ask for guidance on whether they should continue deliberating on all charges or if they can submit a partial verdict. The judge provides an additional instruction, explaining the procedural options available, such as continuing deliberations on the remaining charge, or submitting a partial verdict if they believe further deliberation would be fruitless, and reiterating the importance of trying to reach a unanimous decision if possible.

  This is an example of an additional instruction because the judge is providing procedural guidance to the jury on how to manage their deliberations and potential verdicts, addressing a specific question that arose after they began their work.