Introduction to jury instruction law

• Author: Elizabeth Berry/George Gallagher
• Pages: 61-84

INTRODUCTION

1-3

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO

JURY INSTRUCTION LAW

I. L AW

A. Governing Statutes

§1:10 General Statutes: Code of Criminal Procedure

B. General Rules

§1:20 General Framework of the Charge

§1:30 Nonindictment Theories — Enlarging Pleadings

§1:40 Instructions Restricted to the Evidence

§1:50 Suff‌iciency of the Instructions

§1:55 Hypothetically Correct Jury Charge

§1:60 Def‌initions of the law

§1:70 Application Paragraph

§1:80 Culpable Mental States

§1:90 Assuming Facts in the Charge

§1:100 Defensive Issues

§1:110 Alternative Causes

§1:120 Joint Defendants and Separate Defenses

§1:130 Penal Code Objectives

§1:140 Commenting on Testimony/Weight of the Evidence

§1:150 Conjunctive Allegations and Disjunctive Submission

§1:155 Jury Unanimity

§1:160 Effective Dates of Criminal Statutes

§1:170 Instructions Not Submitted

§1:180 Sequence of Offenses

§1:185 Result and Conduct-Oriented Offenses

§1:190 Conditions of Probation

§1:200 Supplemental Jury Instructions

§1:210 Limiting Instructions — Extraneous Offenses

§1:220 Jury Note Taking

§1:230 Fifth Amendment Concerns at Guilt-Innocence

§1:240 Fifth Amendment Concerns at Punishment

C. Burden Of Proof

§1:250 General Jury Instruction: Reasonable Doubt, Presumption of Innocence

§1:260 Conclusive Irrebuttable Presumptions

§1:270 Mandatory Rebuttable Presumptions

§1:280 Burden of Proving Defenses as Opposed to Elements of an Offense

§1:285 Defenses — Generally

§1:290 Aff‌irmative Defenses: Standard of Review

INTRODUCTION

Texas Criminal Jury Charges 1-4

D. Error in the Jury Charge

§1:300 Harmless Error and the Almanza Doctrine

§1:310 Generally

§1:320 Ordinary Error

§1:330 Fundamental Error

§1:340 Almanza Analysis

§1:350 Almanza Rule Applied

II. OBJECTIONS TO COURT’S CHARGE

§1:360 Governing Statutes

§1:370 Procedure

§1:375 Attaching a Verdict Form to the Jury Charge

§1:380 Failure to Object to a Lesser Offense Instruction

and Challenging the Suff‌iciency of the Evidence on Appeal

§1:385 Court Not Required to Sua Sponte Charge on Lesser-Included Offense

§1:390 Failure to Preserve Error

§1:400 State Must Object

§1:410 Proposed Instructions and Misstatements of law

III. FORMS

§1:415 Plain Language General Instruction: Opening

§1:418 Plain Language General Instruction: Closing

§1:420 Practice Note

§1:430 General Instruction: Failure to Testify

§1:440 General Instruction: Indictment/Information No Evidence of Guilt

§1:450 General Instruction: Presumption of Innocence and Burden of Proof

§1:460 General Instruction: Closing of Guilt-Innocence Phase

§1:465 Limiting Instruction — Result-Oriented Mental States

§1:470 Limiting Instruction — Extraneous Offenses

§1:475 Limiting Instruction — Hearsay

§1:480 Defendant’s Requested Special Charge Form (CCP 36.15)

§1:485 Defendant’s Requested Special Charge — Necessity

§1:490 Rules for Jurors: No Talking, Texting, Tweeting

§1:495 Plain Language General Verdict Form with Lesser

(Example of Intoxication Assault with Lesser of DWI)