US-CA6 · jury_instructions
6th Cir. Pattern Crim. Jury Instr. 2.09
DELIBERATE IGNORANCE
(1) Next, I want to explain something about proving a defendant's knowledge.
(2) No one can avoid responsibility for a crime by deliberately ignoring the obvious. If you are convinced that the defendant deliberately ignored a high probability that _______, then you may find that he knew _______.
(3) But to find this, you must be convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was aware of a high probability that _______, and that the defendant deliberately closed his eyes to what was obvious. Carelessness, or negligence, or foolishness on his part is not the same as knowledge, and is not enough to convict. This, of course, is all for you to decide.
Use Note
This instruction should be used only when there is some evidence of deliberate ignorance.
In conspiracy cases, deliberate ignorance can be used to prove (1) the defendant’s knowledge of the aims or purpose of the conspiracy but not (2) the defendant’s intent to join the conspiracy.
Provenance
- Source
- ca6.uscourts.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-19
- Edition
- 2026-08-19
- Content hash
465dcc4b3df27b59a02b048d1af746ccbf34a3dd2f344f431ae2eacf12bb21ab
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