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Superior Court Model Jury Instructions

November 20, 2023

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Introduction

These Model Jury Instructions have been drafted by a committee of Superior Court judges. They are designed to be legally accurate and easy for jurors to understand and for judges and practitioners to use. The instructions will be revised regularly to keep current with developments in statutory and case law. They are published here in both PDF and searchable Microsoft Word format, and are accompanied by a Table of Contents organized by topic.

These Model Jury Instructions are intended to be just that—models. Judges have broad discretion and inherent authority to decide how to instruct a jury, whether it is by adapting these models, crafting their own instructions, or starting with some other model. The District Court Criminal Model Jury Instructions and District Court Civil Model Jury Instructions are among those other sets of model jury instructions that may serve as useful guides.  

Please note that while these Model Jury Instructions sometimes use the pronouns “he/she” or “he,” that is for convenience only. It does not reflect a judgment of any kind by the Court on gender identity or expression. Judges and practitioners should modify and adapt these models to ensure they are appropriate for each case.

The Superior Court welcomes input regarding these instructions. Please forward your comments or suggestions to Superior Court Legal Counsel Alex Philipson at alex.philipson@jud.state.ma.us.

Drafting plain language jury instructions

Civil instruction scripts (empanelment, precharge, final charge)

  • Empanelment script: individual voir dire (3/10/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Empanelment script: panel voir dire (3/10/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Precharge script (10/1/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Final charge script (civil jury instruction template) (11/10/23)  (Word) | (PDF)

Civil instructions

Contract

  • Contract claims (3/1/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Contract defenses (3/1/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Contract damages and other special contract issues (8/9/21)  (Word) | (PDF)

Employment Law

  • Contract — Breach of noncompetition agreement by a former employee before October 1, 2018 (8/9/22) (Word | PDF)
  • Contract — Breach of noncompetition agreement by a former employee after September 30, 2018 (8/9/22) (Word | PDF)
  • Government retaliation against its employee (Whistleblower Act) (10/18/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Wage Act (earned wages) (10/8/21) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Wage Act (misclassification) (10/8/21) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Wage Act (retaliation) (10/8/21) (Word) | (PDF)

Other/General

  • Clear and convincing evidence (10/8/21) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Deposition testimony (11/20/23) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Detrimental reliance (12/12/22) (Word) | (PDF) 
  • Successor corporate liability (11/10/23) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Vicarious liability (1/5/22)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Wrongful conviction claims (12/12/22) (Word) | (PDF)

Real Property

  • Adverse possession (10/25/22) (Word | PDF)
  • Nuisance (10/25/22) (Word | PDF)
  • Prescriptive easement (10/25/22) (Word | PDF)
  • Trespass (10/25/22) (Word | PDF)

Tort

  • Adverse inference regarding attorney-client privilege (1/11/22)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Breach of fiduciary duty (8/9/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Conversion (12/12/22) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Defamation damages (3/28/22) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Defamation defenses (3/28/22) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Defamation liability - private person (3/28/22) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Defamation liability - public figure (3/28/22) (Word) | (PDF) 
  • General definitions (3/28/22) (Word) | (PDF)
  • General negligence (11/13/23)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Gross negligence (11/13/23)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Loss of consortium damages (1/11/22)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Medical malpractice (5/25/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
    • Lack of informed consent for medical treatment (8/9/22) (Word | PDF)
    • Loss of chance (8/12/22) (Word | PDF)
  • Misrepresentation (8/9/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Motor vehicle claims (8/9/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Personal injury damages (5/25/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Premises liability (7/12/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Professional negligence (8/9/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Recklessness (1/11/22)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Tortious interference with contractual or advantageous relationship (8/15/23)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Trade disparagement (12/12/22) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Trademark or servicemark infringement (12/12/22) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Wrongful death damages (5/25/21)  (Word) | (PDF)

Criminal instruction scripts (empanelment, precharge, final charge)

  • Empanelment script: individual voir dire (3/1/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Empanelment script: panel voir dire (3/1/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Precharge script (10/1/21) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Final charge script (criminal jury instruction template) (11/10/23) (Word) | (PDF)

Criminal instructions

Crimes against the person

  • Armed home invasion (9/9/21) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Armed robbery (8/28/23) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Assault (7/12/21) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Assault and battery (with supplemental charges) (7/12/21)  (Word) | (PDF)
  • Assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon (with supplemental charges) (8/9/21) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Homicide (SJC) (8/15/23) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Kidnapping (3/11/22) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Mayhem (7/12/21) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Rape (9/28/21) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Sex trafficking (2/8/23) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Unarmed robbery (8/28/23) (Word) | (PDF)

Crimes against public peace

  • Ammunition possession (10/5/23) (Word) | (PDF)
  • Firearm possession (10/5/23) (Word) | (PDF)
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