Proposed Mississippi Plain Language Model Jury Instructions - Civil 101

Now that jury selection is complete, I will give you some instructions.

You have been selected to serve on the jury to decide this case. You will hear the

evidence during the trial. You must decide what the facts are in this case. You must then apply

the law to the facts and decide a verdict.

It is my duty as the judge to make sure that the trial is conducted in a fair and orderly way.

I will rule on the attorneys’ objections and motions. I will also instruct you on the law which

applies to this case. You are required to follow the law as I explain it to you.

You must pay close attention to the witnesses’ testimony and the exhibits presented

during the trial. You should not make a decision or form an opinion about the case until you have

heard all of the evidence and the attorneys’ closing arguments, and have been instructed on the

law.

You may not talk to or have any contact with the plaintiff(s), defendant(s), or their

attorneys during this trial. The plaintiff(s), defendant(s), and their attorneys have been told not to

talk to or have any contact with you as well. You must not talk to anyone about this case. If

anyone attempts to talk to you about this case or talks about the case in front of you, you should

immediately tell either the bailiff or me.

The reason you are not to talk about this case with anyone is so that you can decide the

case based on the evidence presented at trial and the law. That is your sworn duty as a juror.

It is my duty to rule on the attorneys’ motions or objections which are made during the

trial. You should not think that I have any opinion about any part of this case based on what I rule

or say in response to those motions or objections.

I may need to conduct some hearings on trial matters outside your presence. Sometimes

these hearings take a long time. I ask you to please be patient and understanding when this

happens.

Serving as a juror means that you will have to sit and listen carefully to testimony for a

long period of time. If you feel you need a rest break, please ask for a recess.

Now I will briefly explain the general way that a trial proceeds. First, the plaintiff’s

attorney will make an opening statement. [He/She] will explain the issues in the case and

summarize the facts that the plaintiff expects the evidence to show. Next, the defendant’s

attorney can make an opening statement, or [he/she] can wait until later in the trial. [He/She] will

explain what the defendant plans to prove. Opening statements are not evidence. They are only

designed to introduce the theory of the case to you. You should listen closely to the opening

statements to prepare yourself to hear the witnesses’ testimony and evidence which will follow.

After the opening statements, the plaintiff will begin [his/her/its] case. The plaintiff will

present evidence by calling witnesses to testify under oath and also may introduce exhibits. The

defendant will be allowed to cross-examine the plaintiff’s witnesses.

At the end of the plaintiff’s case, the defendant will present evidence in the same manner

as the plaintiff.

At the end of the defendant’s case, the plaintiff may have an opportunity to respond to the

evidence introduced by the defendant.

At the end of the trial, I will instruct you on the law, and then the attorneys will make

their closing arguments.

As a juror, you must pay close attention and keep an open mind until the case is given to

you to decide.