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Welcome to the Vermont Model Criminal Jury Instructions. The instructions are sponsored by the Vermont Bar Association.
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Author Archives: Michael Csere
Lewd and Lascivious Conduct with a Child
August 19, 2019: The Committee has revised the reporter’s note for the crime of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct with a Child to include a reference to State v. Discola, 2018 VT 7, ¶¶ 23–24, 207 Vt. 216.
Self Defense (use of deadly force)
July 26, 2019: The Committee has revised the Self Defense (use of deadly force) instruction, CR07-111, to reflect that not all uses of deadly force result in a killing.
Definition of “Deadly Weapon”
July 8, 2019: The Committee has revised the reporter’s notes in three different places to incorporate a reference to State v. Kuzawski, 2017 VT 118, ¶¶ 8–18, 206 Vt. 351, which discusses the definition of “deadly weapons”: CR10-211. General Definition … Continue reading
Attempt
July 8, 2019: The Committee has revised the reporter’s note accompanying the general “attempt” instruction (CR09-201) to incorporate references to more recent cases discussing attempt, including State v. Sawyer, 2018 VT 43, ¶¶ 12–22.
Unlawful Trespass
April 4, 2019: The Committee has revised the Reporter’s Note for unlawful trespass to incorporate a reference to the Vermont Supreme Court’s recent decision in State v. Pixley, 2018 VT 110.
DUI: Alcohol Concentration of .08 or more
March 8, 2019: The Committee has updated the reference to “Department of Health” in instruction CR30-051 to instead reflect the “Department of Public Safety.”
The Aggressor and Self-Defense
February 15, 2019: The Committee has added a new reporter’s note to accompany instruction CR07-091, “The Aggressor and Self-Defense.”
Lewdness
January 18, 2019: The Committee has revised the instructions and reporter’s notes for Lewdness and the reporter’s notes for the Prohibited Acts crimes in light of In re K.A., 2016 VT 52, ¶ 21, 202 Vt. 86 and 13 V.S.A. … Continue reading
Entrapment
January 2, 2019: The Committee has posted a revised instruction and new Reporter’s Note for the defense of entrapment, available here.
Hate Crimes
October 18, 2018: The Committee has drafted a new instruction for when a criminal offense is charged as a hate crime under 13 V.S.A. § 1455. The instruction and an accompanying reporter’s note are available here.