Category Archives: TRIAL ISSUES

JUDICIAL GUIDELINES FOR VOIR DIRE (11-03)

IN 2001 THE MN SUPREME COURT TASK FORCE ON JURY SELECTION RECOMMENDED THAT JUDGES EXERCISE MORE CONTROL OVER THE JURY SELECTION PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT IT IS PROPERLY CONDUCTED, AND SHOULD INTERVENE SUA SPONTE WHEN APPROPRIATE.

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Pendleton11.03-Judicial_Guidelines_for_Voir_Dire

CAUTIONARY JURY INSTRUCTIONS DURING TRIAL (11-02)

You’re In The Middle Of Trial And Something Occurs (Usually An Evidentiary Issue) That Requires A Cautionary Instruction Be Given To The Jury. To Help Minimize The Potential For Delay, This Update Includes A List Of 15 Common (JIG and NON-JIG) Cautionary Instructions Designed For Easy Access During Trial.

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Pendleton11.02-Cautionary_Jury_Instructions_During_Trial

PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT (10-14)

PROBLEM: WITH EACH NEW GENERATION OF PROSECUTORS MANY OF THE SAME PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT MISTAKES ARE REPEATED. ENCLOSED ARE TWO JUDICIAL RESOURCES TO ASSIST THE COURT IN ADDRESSING THIS ONGOING CONCERN?

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Pendleton10.14-Prosecutorial_Misconduct

Courtroom Closure – Full or Partial Exclusion (10-06)

QUESTION: You’re in the Middle of Trial and You Get a Request to Temporarily Exclude Someone from the Court Room. What Findings Must a Judge Make Before Ordering a Full or Partial Closure of a Public Trial Including Exclusion of any Member of the Public From Any Portion of the Public Trial?

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Pendleton10.06-Courtroom_Closure-Full_or_Partial_Exclusions