Issue: Extent of a Trial Court’s Discretion with Regard To Proper Definitions and Explanatory Phrases To The Jury.
| Area of Law: | Litigation & Procedure |
| Keywords: | Proper definitions and explanatory phrases; Jury instruction |
| Jurisdiction: | Federal |
| Cited Cases: | None |
| Cited Statutes: | None |
| Date: | 09/01/2001 |
A trial court has broad discretion in submitting proper definitions and explanatory
phrases to the jury. Ozuna v. State, No. 98-10-02749-CR, 2001 WL 303322, at * 2 (Tex. App.–San Antonio Mar. 30, 2001, pet. filed). In general, the judge is therefore allowed to proceed in answering a jury’s questions as he or she deems proper. Id. While Virgin Islands’ courts do not appear to have addressed this type of case, including the appropriate standard of review, courts in other jurisdictions apply the harmless error test in determining whether a jury instruction constitutes reversible error. E.g., id.
[…]