Wis JI-Criminal 50

Before the trial begins, there are certain instructions you should have to better

understand your functions as a juror and how you should conduct yourself during the trial.

Your duty is to decide the case based only on the evidence presented at trial and the

law given to you by the court. Anything you may see or hear outside the courtroom is not

evidence. All people deserve fair treatment in our system of justice, regardless of their race,

national origin, religion, age, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, education, income

level, or any other personal characteristic. People make assumptions and form opinions

from their own personal backgrounds and experiences. Generally, we are aware of these

things, but you should consider the possibility that you have biases of which you may not

be aware which can affect how you evaluate information and make decisions.1

You must carefully evaluate the evidence and resist any urge to reach a verdict that is

influenced by any bias for or against any party, witness, or attorney. Personal opinions,

preferences or biases have no place in a courtroom, where our goal is to treat all parties

equally and to arrive at a just and proper verdict based on the evidence.

Do not begin your deliberations and discussion of the case until all the evidence is

presented and I have instructed you on the law. Do not discuss this case among yourselves

or with anyone else until your final deliberations in the jury room. This order is not limited

to face-to-face conversations. It also extends to all forms of electronic communications.

Do not use any electronic devices, such as a mobile phone or computer, text or instant

messaging, or social networking sites, to send or receive any information about this case

or your experience as a juror.

We will stop, or “recess,” from time to time during the trial. You may be excused from

the courtroom when it is necessary for me to hear legal arguments from the lawyers. If you

come in contact with the parties, lawyers, (interpreters,) or witnesses, do not speak with

them. For their part, the parties, lawyers, (interpreters,) and witnesses will not contact or

speak with the jurors. Do not listen to any conversation about this case.

Do not research any information that you personally think might be helpful to you in

understanding the issues presented. Do not investigate this case on your own or visit the

scene, either in person or by any electronic means. Do not read any newspaper reports or

listen to any news reports on radio, television, over the internet, or any other electronic

application or tool about this trial. Do not consult dictionaries, computers, electronic

applications, social media, the internet, or other reference materials for additional

information. Do not seek information regarding the public records of any party or witness

in this case. Any information you obtain outside the courtroom could be misleading,

inaccurate, or incomplete. Relying on this information is unfair because the parties would

not have the opportunity to refute, explain, or correct it.

Do not communicate with anyone about this trial or your experience as a juror while

you are serving on this jury. Do not use a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device,

including personal wearable electronics, applications, or tools with communication

capabilities, to share any information about this case. For example, do not communicate by

telephone, blog post, e-mail, text message, instant message, social media post, or in any

other way, on or off the computer.

Do not permit anyone to communicate with you about this matter, either in person,

electronically, or by any other means. If anyone does so despite your telling them not to,

you should report that to me. I appreciate that it is tempting when you go home in the

evening to discuss this case with another member of your household, but you may not do

so. This case must be decided by you, the jurors, based on the evidence presented in the

courtroom. People not serving on this jury have not heard the evidence, and it is improper

for them to influence your deliberations and decision in this case. After this trial is

completed, you are free to communicate with anyone in any manner.

These rules are intended to assure that jurors remain impartial throughout the trial. If

any juror has reason to believe that another juror has violated these rules, you should report

that to me. If jurors do not comply with these rules, it could result in a new trial involving

additional time and significant expense to the parties and the taxpayers.

You are to decide the case solely on the evidence offered and received at trial.

EVIDENCE [WIS JI-CRIMINAL 103]

Evidence is:

First, the sworn testimony of witnesses, both on direct and cross-examination,

regardless of who called the witness.

Second, the exhibits the court has received, whether or not an exhibit goes to the jury

room.

Third, any facts to which the lawyers have agreed or stipulated or which the court has

directed you to find.

OBJECTIONS [ADD WIS-JI CRIMINAL 148 IF DESIRED]

NOTETAKING [ADD WIS-JI CRIMINAL 55 OR 56 IF DESIRED]

QUESTIONS BY JURORS [ADD WIS-JI CRIMINAL 57 IF DESIRED]

TRANSCRIPTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR DELIBERATIONS; READING

BACK TESTIMONY [WIS-JI CRIMINAL 58]

You will not have a copy of the written transcript of the trial testimony available for

use during your deliberations. [You may ask to have specific portions of the testimony read

to you.] You should pay careful attention to all the testimony because you must rely

primarily on your memory of the evidence and testimony introduced during the trial.

POLICE REPORTS [ADD WIS JI-CRIMINAL 59 IF DESIRED]

CREDIBILITY OF WITNESSES [WIS JI-CRIMINAL 300]

It is the duty of the jury to scrutinize and to weigh the testimony of witnesses and to

determine the effect of the evidence as a whole. You are the sole judges of the credibility,

that is, the believability, of the witnesses and of the weight to be given to their testimony.

In your determination of credibility, you must avoid bias, conscious or unconscious

based on the witness’s race, national origin, religion, age, ability, gender identity, sexual

orientation, education, income level, or any other personal characteristic.

In determining the credibility of each witness and the weight you give to the testimony

of each witness, consider these factors:

• whether the witness has an interest or lack of interest in the result of this trial;

• the witness’ conduct, appearance, and demeanor on the witness stand;

• the clearness or lack of clearness of the witness’ recollections;

• the opportunity the witness had for observing and for knowing the matters the

witness testified about;

• the reasonableness of the witness’ testimony;

• the apparent intelligence of the witness;

• bias or prejudice, if any has been shown;

• possible motives for falsifying testimony; and

• all other facts and circumstances during the trial which tend either to support or to

discredit the testimony.

Then give to the testimony of each witness the weight you believe it should receive.

There is no magic way for you to evaluate the testimony; instead, you should use your

common sense and experience. In everyday life, you determine for yourselves the

reliability of things people say to you. You should do the same thing here.

SUBSTANTIVE INSTRUCTIONS – ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME

BURDEN OF PROOF [ADD WIS JI-CRIMINAL 140 IF DESIRED]

OPENING STATEMENTS [WIS JI-CRIMINAL 101]

The lawyers will now make opening statements. The purpose of an opening statement

is to give the lawyers an opportunity to tell you what they expect the evidence will show

so that you will better understand the evidence as it is introduced during the trial. I must

caution you, however, that the opening statements are not evidence.