Legal Definitions - mandatory instruction

A mandatory instruction is a specific direction given by a judge to a jury that they are legally required to follow. Unlike general guidance or advice, a mandatory instruction removes the jury's discretion on a particular point of law or fact, compelling them to accept or apply it as stated by the court. The jury has no choice but to incorporate this instruction into their deliberations and final decision.

Here are some examples illustrating mandatory instructions:

• Example 1: Undisputed Fact

  In a civil lawsuit concerning a car accident, both the plaintiff and the defendant agree that the defendant was driving a vehicle registered in their name. During the trial, the judge might issue a mandatory instruction stating, "You must find that the defendant was the registered owner of the vehicle involved in the collision."

  Explanation: This instruction compels the jury to accept a specific fact as true because it is undisputed by both parties. The jury is not allowed to deliberate on this point; they are legally bound to accept it as established.

• Example 2: Legal Presumption

  Consider a case involving a contract dispute where a state law dictates that any written contract signed by a person under the age of 18 is legally "voidable" (meaning it can be canceled by the minor). If it is undisputed that one of the parties to the contract was 17 years old at the time of signing, the judge might give a mandatory instruction: "You must conclude that the contract in question is voidable due to the age of one of the parties."

  Explanation: Here, the judge is instructing the jury on a specific legal consequence that automatically arises from an undisputed fact (the age of the party) and established law. The jury has no discretion to decide otherwise on the voidability of the contract.

• Example 3: Disregarding Improper Evidence

  During a criminal trial, a witness accidentally mentions that the defendant had been arrested for a similar offense several years ago. This information was previously ruled inadmissible by the judge because it was irrelevant and potentially prejudicial. The judge would immediately give a mandatory instruction to the jury: "You must disregard the witness's last statement regarding any prior arrests of the defendant. That information is not evidence in this case and must not be considered in your deliberations."

  Explanation: This instruction legally obligates the jury to ignore specific information they heard, preventing it from influencing their decision. The judge is compelling them to exclude certain data from their consideration to ensure a fair trial based only on admissible evidence.