Alaska Civil Pattern Jury Instruction 1.02

First, some housekeeping matters. Our trial day will start at ________. You must be here every morning by _________. We cannot begin until you are all here. The trial will continue until ___________ each day.

[If we are in session the following arrangements will be made for lunch: _____________________________________.] [We will not take a lunch break so you should plan to bring something to snack on during recesses.]

_____________ is the in-court deputy and will escort you from the jury room when the trial is in session.

During the recesses that we take during the trial day, you will retire to the jury room together. Coffee and restrooms are available in the jury room. When we recess at the end of the trial day, you will not be required to remain together. This is not a sequestered jury. However, you must obey the following instructions during each and every recess of the court:

First, do not discuss the case either among yourselves or with anyone else until the end of the trial. In fairness to the parties to this lawsuit, you must keep an open mind throughout the trial. You must not reach your conclusion until final deliberations which will be after all the evidence is in, after you have heard the attorneys' closing arguments, and after my instructions to you on the law. During deliberations, you should reach your conclusion only after an exchange of views with the other members of the jury.

Second, do not permit anyone to discuss the case in your presence. If anyone tries to do so, you should tell him or her to stop. If they persist, report that fact to the in-court deputy as soon as you are able. You should not, however, discuss with your fellow jurors either the fact that someone tried to talk to you about this case or any other fact that you feel necessary to bring to the attention of the court.

Third, although it is a normal human tendency to talk with people with whom one is thrown in contact, during the time you serve on this jury, please do not talk, in or out of the courtroom, with any of the parties, their attorneys, or any witness. By this I mean not only do not talk to them about the case, but do not talk to them at all, even to pass the time of day. Parties and attorneys have been instructed likewise. In no other way can all parties be assured of the absolute impartiality they are entitled to expect from you as jurors.

Fourth, do not conduct any investigations on your own or do any research concerning this case outside of the courtroom. Do not visit any locations where any of the events of the case have occurred. You must decide this case based only on the evidence presented here in court.