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IDJI 1 INSTRUCTION NO. ________ You have been summoned as prospective jurors in the lawsuit now before us. The first thing we do in a trial is to select 12 jurors and, perhaps, one or two alternate jurors from among you ladies and gentlemen. I am the judge in charge of the courtroom and this trial. The deputy clerk of court marks the trial exhibits and administers oaths to you jurors and the witnesses. The bailiff will assist me in maintaining courtroom order and will arrange for your meals after this case has been submitted to you for decision. The court reporter will keep a verbatim account of all matters of record during the trial. To assist both you and the attorneys with this process of selection of a jury, I will introduce you to the parties and attorneys and tell you in brief what this lawsuit is about. The party who brings a lawsuit is called the "plaintiff." In this suit the plaintiff is (name). The plaintiff is represented by a lawyer, (name). The party against whom a lawsuit is brought is called the "defendant," who is (name), in this suit. The defendant is represented by a lawyer, (name). This is a civil case involving (outline very succinctly the nature of the case and the time and place of any key occurrence.) A trial starts with the selection of a fair, impartial jury. To that end the court and the lawyers will ask each of you questions to discover whether you have any information concerning the case or any opinions or attitudes which either of the lawyers believe might cause you to favor or disfavor some part of the evidence or one side or the other. The questions may probe deeply into your attitudes, beliefs and experiences, but they are not intended to embarrass you. If you do not hear or understand a question, you should say so. If you do understand the question, you should answer it freely. The clerk of the court will now swear you for the jury examination. IDJI 1. GIVEN ______________ REFUSED ____________ MODIFIED ___________ COVERED ____________ OTHER ______________ |
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