Editing Jury instructions (section)

== Specific jurisdictional issues ==

===United States===
Under the American judicial system, juries are often the [[trier of fact]] when they serve in a trial. In other words, it is their job to sort through disputed accounts presented in evidence. The judge decides questions of law, meaning he or she decides how the law applies to a given set of facts. Jury instructions are given to the jury by the judge, who usually reads them aloud to the jury. The judge issues a judge's charge to inform the jury how to act in deciding a case.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/law_related_education_network/how_courts_work/juryinstruct/ |title = How Courts Work}}</ref> The jury instructions provide something of a [[flowchart]] on what [[verdict]] jurors should deliver based on what they determine to be true. Put another way, "If you believe A (set of facts), you must find X (verdict).  If you believe B (set of facts), you must find Y (verdict)."  Jury instructions can also serve an important role in guiding the jury how to consider certain evidence.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://federalevidence.com/node/893 |title=Overview - Federal Jury Instructions & Federal Evidence |access-date=2011-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004040207/http://federalevidence.com/node/893 |archive-date=2011-10-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

All 50 states have a model set of instructions, usually called "pattern jury instructions", which provide the framework for the charge to the jury; sometimes, only names and circumstances have to be filled in for a particular case. Often they are much more complex, although certain elements frequently recur. For instance, if a criminal defendant chooses not to testify, the jury will often be instructed not to draw any negative conclusions from that decision.  Many jurisdictions are now instructing jurors not to communicate about the case through social networking services like Facebook and Twitter.<ref>Ensuring An Impartial Jury In The Age Of Social Media, Duke Law and Technology Review (2012), http://dukedltr.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/stevefinal_31.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809091013/https://dukedltr.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/stevefinal_31.pdf |date=2017-08-09 }}</ref>

=== United Kingdom ===
The judge presents directions to the jury court, after overlapping instructions have been provided by a DVD and a jury manager.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=May 2016 |title=Crown Court Compendium Part I |url=https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/crown-court-compendium-part-i-jury-and-trial-management-and-summing-up.pdf |pages=3-1–3-3}}</ref>

=== Australia ===
In Australia, as in other common law jurisdictions, jury instructions serve as essential guidelines for jurors in both criminal and civil trials, although trial by jury for civil matters is now rare. Each state and territory has its own legislation and rules governing jury instructions; although commonalities exist across the jurisdictions. These commonalities are due to harmonious legislation, and a nationally unified common law.

To promote consistency and clarity in jury instructions, Australian jurisdictions have developed standard jury directions or "Bench Books" that provide judges with templates and guidance on instructing jurors. The Bench Books are regularly updated to reflect changes in legislation and case law. Examples include the Victorian Criminal Charge Book, the New South Wales Criminal Trial Bench Book, and the Queensland Supreme and District Courts Benchbook.