MS · jury_instructions
Proposed Mississippi Plain Language Model Jury Instructions - Civil 1209
Assault – Insulting Words Defense - General Instruction and Verdict Form
General Instruction
[Name of defendant] claims that [he/she] is not legally responsible for [name of
plaintiff]’s [harm/injury/injuries] because [name of defendant] committed the assault as a result
of insulting words stated to [him/her] by [name of plaintiff]. To establish this claim, [name of
defendant] must prove all of the following are more likely true than not true:
1. [Name of plaintiff] stated insulting words to [name of defendant], specifically
___________________ [specify the insulting words allegedly stated by the plaintiff]; and
2. [Name of defendant]’s assault in response to the insulting words was justifiable or excusable.
Verdict Form
We answer the questions submitted to us as follows:
1. Did [name of plaintiff] state insulting words to [name of defendant], specifically
_____________________ [specify the insulting words allegedly stated by the plaintiff]?
YES _______ NO _______
If your answer to question 1 is YES, then answer question 2. If you answered NO, stop
here and tell the bailiff.
2. Was [name of defendant]’s assault in response to the insulting words justifiable or excusable?
YES _______ NO _______
If your answers to questions 1-2 are YES, then you may find in favor of [name of
defendant] on [his/her] claim of self-defense.
After you have filled out the verdict form, please tell the bailiff that you have reached a verdict.
History
Proposed Mississippi Plain Language Model Jury Instructions - Civil 1209 (current as of February 17, 2012). Submitted in 2012 by the Mississippi Model Jury Instructions Commission (created by the Supreme Court of Mississippi by order of December 30, 2008) and published by the Court on courts.ms.gov. The Court states that these model jury instructions have not been adopted or approved by the Supreme Court of Mississippi.
Provenance
- Source
- courts.ms.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-25
- Edition
- 2026-09-25
- Content hash
c5670fb3ce33e1fe3ea730b9e0e9cf956f84829608b0fd35f6c864dc675de373
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