US-CA11 · jury_instructions
11th Cir. Pattern Jury Instr. (Criminal) B3
Definition of “Reasonable Doubt”
The Government's burden of proof is heavy, but it doesn’t have to prove a
Defendant's guilt beyond all possible doubt. The Government's proof only has to
exclude any “reasonable doubt” concerning the Defendant's guilt.
A “reasonable doubt” is a real doubt, based on your reason and common
sense after you’ve carefully and impartially considered all the evidence in the case.
“Proof beyond a reasonable doubt” is proof so convincing that you would be
willing to rely and act on it without hesitation in the most important of your own
affairs. If you are convinced that the Defendant has been proved guilty beyond a
reasonable doubt, say so. If you are not convinced, say so.
Provenance
- Source
- ca11.uscourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-20
- Edition
- criminal-2021-08
- Content hash
fc3840f3c874ee5f3725d286aed56f775302743a7ce88c4f241b56256b0792f2
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