Faculty Journal Articles and Book Chapters
Abstract
This article reports on an empirical study of juror comprehension of pattern jury instructions. It demonstrated that comprehension of the original instructions was poor, but that rewriting significantly improved their ability to understand and explain the meaning of the instructions. A separate study showed that jurors report that they discuss and consider the language of the instructions provided to them.
Publication Title
North Carolina Law Review
Document Type
Article
Keywords
juries, jury instructions, empirical research, language, plain english
Recommended Citation
Walter W. Steele and Elizabeth G. Thornburg, Jury Instructions: A Persistent Failure to Communicate, 67 N.C. L. Rev. 77 (1988)