WI · jury_instructions
Wis JI-Civil 200
Burden of Proof: Ordinary
Certain questions in the verdict ask that you answer the questions “yes” or “no”. The
party who wants you to answer the questions “yes” has the burden of proof as to those
questions. This burden is to satisfy you by the greater weight of the credible evidence, to a
reasonable certainty, that “yes” should be your answer to the verdict questions.
The greater weight of the credible evidence means that the evidence in favor of a
“yes” answer has more convincing power than the evidence opposed to it. Credible evidence
means evidence you believe in light of reason and common sense.
“Reasonable certainty” means that you are persuaded based upon a rational
consideration of the evidence. Absolute certainty is not required, but a guess is not enough to
meet the burden of proof.
History
Wis JI-Civil 200 (2004). ©2004, Regents, Univ. of Wis. Prepared by the Wisconsin Civil Jury Instructions Committee of the Wisconsin Judicial Conference with the University of Wisconsin Law School; posted by the Wisconsin State Law Library with the University's permission.
Provenance
- Source
- wilawlibrary.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-24
- Edition
- 2026-09-24
- Content hash
e62772776c02fc5f940db848a222d8fdcdebddab2af91783a013e5ad4af5e5fe
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