jury-instructions

name	jury-instructions
title	Jury Instructions
description	Drafts complete proposed jury instruction sets for U.S. litigation, including preliminary charges, elements, burden of proof, evidence evaluation, and verdict forms. Adapts to jurisdiction-specific pattern instructions. Use when drafting jury instructions, jury charges, verdict forms, or special interrogatories during trial preparation.
author	CaseMark
author_url	https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/jury-instructions
license	Apache-2.0
version	0.1.0
execution_mode	open
jurisdiction	us
practice	litigation
language	en

Jury Instructions

Drafts proposed jury instructions tailored to case, jurisdiction, and claims at issue.

Prerequisites

Gather before drafting:

• Pleadings/pretrial order — complaint, answer, counterclaims, stipulated facts, MIL rulings
• Jurisdiction — state/federal, specific court, applicable pattern instructions
• Claims and defenses — all causes of action, affirmative defenses, statutory/common-law basis
• Verdict form type — general, special, or interrogatories
• Key evidence — expert witnesses, exhibits, stipulations

Instruction Sequence

Draft in this order using numbered paragraphs with descriptive headings.

1. Preliminary Instructions

Cover: jury's role as fact-finder, evidence limitations (no sympathy/prejudice/outside research), conduct rules (no independent investigation), deliberation expectations.

• Pull jurisdiction's standard preliminary pattern instructions
• Adapt to case type (civil/criminal)

2. Case Statement

• Neutral, non-argumentative summary from undisputed facts, pleadings, and stipulations only
• Identify parties by name and role; state dispute nature and chronology
• Never use characterizations favorable to either side

3. Legal Definitions

• Define every legal term before it appears in elements instructions
• Source hierarchy: (1) statutory definitions → (2) pattern instructions → (3) controlling case law
• Build progressively — foundational terms first, compound concepts second

4. Elements Instructions

For each claim/charge/defense:

1. Number every element
2. Identify burden-bearing party per element
3. Explain each element in case-specific context
4. Address circumstantial-evidence inferences for mental-state elements
5. Make contingent-claim sequencing explicit

• Cite controlling statute or case law per element
• Cross-reference pattern instructions
• Flag affirmative defenses and burden-shifting

5. Burden of Proof