The jury charge is the questions, instructions, and definitions given to the jury by the court (judge) in a lawsuit to resolve the dispute between the parties. The jury’s answers to the questions in the jury charge determines the outcome of the lawsuit (the jury verdict), and is ultimately reflected in the court’s judgment (the statement of the relief granted in the lawsuit—generally who owes who money).
In Alaska, the jury charge, also known as jury instructions, is a crucial component of a trial. These instructions are provided by the judge to the jury and encompass the questions they must answer, the legal principles they must follow, and the definitions they need to understand in order to deliberate and reach a verdict. The jury charge is tailored to the specific facts and legal issues of the case at hand. It guides the jury in applying the law to the evidence presented during the trial. The jury's answers to the questions in the jury charge lead to the jury verdict, which determines the outcome of the lawsuit. This verdict is then reflected in the court's judgment, which details the relief granted, such as the award of damages or other remedies. Alaska's court system has established procedures to ensure that the jury charge is accurate and fair, and parties in the lawsuit typically have the opportunity to propose instructions and object to the proposed charge before it is finalized and presented to the jury.