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 Massachusetts, the jury charge, also known as jury instructions, is a crucial component of a trial. The judge provides the jury with a set of questions, instructions, and definitions that guide them in their deliberations to reach a verdict. These instructions are tailored to the specific laws and legal standards relevant to the case at hand. The jury charge is designed to help jurors understand the legal principles they must apply to the facts they have found to be true. The jury's answers to the questions posed in the jury charge determine the outcome of the lawsuit, which is the jury verdict. This verdict is then reflected in the court's judgment, which is the official decision of the court regarding the relief granted, such as monetary damages or other remedies. The process of crafting jury instructions is a collaborative one, where both the prosecution and defense can propose instructions and object to those proposed by the other side or by the court. The final instructions must be approved by the judge and are intended to be an impartial and accurate summary of the law.