9^TH CIRCUIT MODEL INSTRUCTIONS 2000
(Includes Additions and Revisions Through 2007)
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NINTH CIRCUIT MANUAL OF MODEL JURY INSTRUCTIONS - CRIMINAL

INTRODUCTION

This Manual of Model Criminal Jury Instructions has been prepared to help judges communicate effectively with juries.

The instructions in this Manual are models. They must be reviewed carefully before use in a particular case. They are not a substitute for the individual research and drafting that may be required in a particular case, nor are they intended to discourage judges from using their own forms and techniques for instructing juries. McDowell v. Calderon, 130 F.3d 833, 840 (9th Cir. 1997). While adaptation or tailoring may be necessary to fit a particular case or changing law, the format suggested may be used in most criminal cases.

This edition of the Manual has one new feature. The Committee has renumbered the instructions by eliminating the use of numbers with more than one decimal point. To assist users, the Committee has included a table listing the old instruction numbers in the 1997 edition and the corresponding numbers in the 2000 edition.

The Committee has continued the practice of date-coding the instructions. All instructions were reviewed by the Committee for this edition, and each instruction is marked with a year indicating when the instruction was last revised (e.g., "Rev. 1997"). Users of the Manual should check an instruction’s date to determine whether an instruction has been incorporated from a prior edition.

The model instructions also are available online by accessing the "Documents" area at the Ninth Circuit’s website at http://www.ce9.uscourts.gov. As instructions are revised, the Committee will post them at that site.

These model instructions have been reviewed by various members of the federal bench and bar. The Committee extends its thanks to those who reviewed and commented on various sections of the book. The Committee extends its particular thanks to Ninth Circuit staff members Robin Donoghue and Julie Cobb Martel, extern Lindsay Robbins, and former staff member Laura Ryan. The Committee also extends its thanks to former staff member Joseph Franaszek, Esq., who has voluntarily assisted the Committee after leaving federal employment. The Committee also strongly encourages users of this book to make suggestions for further revisions and updates. A suggestion form has been included in the back of this book for that purpose.

NINTH CIRCUIT JURY COMMITTEE

Judge John M. Roll, Chair 
Judge Thomas S. Zilly
Judge Irma E. Gonzalez 
Judge Donald W. Molloy 
Chief Judge Wm. Fremming Nielsen 
Judge Stephen V. Wilson

Joseph Franaszek, Reporter

Robin Donoghue, Staff
Julie Cobb Martel, Staff

February 2000