Standard Jury Instructions—Civ. Cases (No. 00-1)

Summary

The Florida Supreme Court authorized amendments to the Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases in case No. SC00-1805. The amendments addressed preliminary voir dire, introductory trial instructions, defamation claims, prejudice and sympathy, and an instruction upon discharge of the jury. The opinion cautioned that the instructions and accompanying notes reflected the committee’s views and did not foreclose requests for additional or alternative instructions.

Holdings

1. The court authorized the proposed amendments to the Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases for publication and use, effective when the opinion became final.
2. Authorization for publication and use does not constitute an opinion on the legal correctness or applicability of the instructions and does not foreclose requests for additional or alternative instructions or challenges to their legal correctness.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Supreme Court of Florida should authorize the proposed amendments to the Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases for publication and use.
2. Whether the proposed preliminary voir dire and jury-discharge instructions should be adopted notwithstanding the comments received during the publication process.

Disposition

approved