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 Idaho, as in other states, the jury charge, also known as jury instructions, is a crucial component of a trial. The judge provides the jury with a set of instructions that explain the law relevant to the case, the standards that must be met to find in favor of the plaintiff or the defendant, and the definitions of any legal terms that the jury needs to understand. These instructions guide the jury in deliberating and reaching a verdict. The jury charge may include questions that the jury must answer, which can be in the form of a special verdict form where the jury makes findings on specific factual issues. The jury's answers to these questions and their verdict are based on the evidence presented during the trial. Once the jury reaches a verdict, the judge will enter a judgment based on this verdict, which will determine the outcome of the lawsuit, including any monetary damages awarded. Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure govern the process of jury instructions, and parties in the lawsuit typically have the opportunity to propose instructions and object to the court's instructions before they are finalized and presented to the jury.