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Civil procedure

jury charge

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 Michigan, the jury charge consists of the questions, instructions, and definitions that the judge provides to the jury in a civil or criminal trial. These instructions guide the jury on the legal standards they must apply to the facts they have found to be true in order to reach a verdict. The jury charge is a critical component of the trial process, as it helps ensure that the jury understands the law and the issues they are to decide. Michigan law requires that jury instructions be based on the Michigan Civil Jury Instructions or the Michigan Criminal Jury Instructions, which are standardized to promote uniformity and fairness in the judicial process. The jury's answers to the questions posed in the jury charge lead to the jury verdict, which is then reflected in the court's judgment. This judgment outlines the resolution of the dispute, including any monetary damages awarded. The process of delivering a jury charge is governed by the Michigan Court Rules, which provide specific guidelines on how instructions are to be given to the jury.

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Civil procedure

jury charge

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Michigan State Code

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Civil procedure

jury charge

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