Form Finder: Jury Instructions

Many states (including Illinois) and federal circuits have their own pattern jury instructions.  It is necessary to consult pattern instructions first.  Model jury instructions needed to complement pattern instructions may be found in encyclopedic sets of instructions, in titles on individual subjects, and in litigation practice treatises. What follow are many of the most-often consulted titles in our library for federal jury instructions and Illinois jury instructions.

Circuit Court Jury Instructions (Pattern and Model): 

The library has civil and/or criminal jury instructions for the First, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Circuits.  Depending upon the circuit, the instructions are referred to as either pattern or model instructions.  These instructions can be found on reserve in the library.

• Westlaw provides online access to civil jury instructions for the Third, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits as well as criminal jury instructions for the First, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits. Browse them here. 

• Lexis provides access to the same circuit jury instructions as Westlaw. 
  • Modern Federal Jury Instructions-Civil
  • Modern Federal Jury Instructions-Criminal

• Court websites also often provide pattern jury instructions.

Encyclopedic Sets of Instructions:

Federal Jury Practice and Instructions. 5th/6th ed.  West (2006-).  KF 8984 .D496 – 10th fl.   One of the two encyclopedic sets of federal instructions.  5 volumes cover both civil and criminal instructions.

Modern Federal Jury Instructions.  Sand, Leonard B. (1984- ).  KF9682.A65 M64 – 10th fl.  Two unnumbered volumes of pattern instructions.

Topic-Specific Jury Instructions:

Jury Instructions in Automobile Actions.  

Jury Instructions in Commercial Litigation.  Lexis (2002-). KF 8984 .E15 2002 - 10th fl.  

Jury Instructions on Damages in Tort Actions.  5th ed.  Lexis (2003-).  KF 8984 .D68 - 10th fl.  

Jury Instructions in Intellectual Property Cases.  Big Foot Press (1980-).  KF 8984 .A65 B87 - 10th fl.

Jury Instructions on Medical Issues.  6th ed.  Lexis (2004).  KF 8984 .A65 AL26x - 10th fl.  

Jury Instructions in Real Estate Litigation.  Lexis (2006-).  KF 8984 .D672 - 10th fl.  

Model Jury Instructions: Business Torts Litigation.  ABA (2005).  KF 8984 .A65 M64 - 10th fl.  CD-ROM available on reserve.

Model Jury Instructions: Copyright, Trademark, and Trade Dress Litigation.  ABA (2008).  KF8984.M63 - 10th fl.  CD-Rom available on reserve

Model Jury Instructions: Employment Litigation.  ABA (2005).  KF 8984 .A65 E57 - 10th fl.  CD-ROM available on reserve.

Model Jury Instructions: Construction Litigation.  

Model Jury Instructions: Patent Litigation.  ABA (2005).  KF 3155 .M63 - 10th fl.  CD-ROM available on reserve.

Model Jury Instructions: Securities Litigation.  ABA (1996).  KF 8984 .S42 - 10th fl.

Illinois Pattern Instructions (IPI):

• Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions: IPI Civil.  West (1995-).  KFI 1742 .A87 IL6 - 9th fl.  

• Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions: IPI Criminal.  4th ed.  West (2000).  KFI 1783 .A65  IL6 - Reserve, 6th Fl.  

Illinois Non-Pattern Instructions:

• Illinois Forms of Jury Instruction.  Mathew Bender (1991- ).  KFI 1742.6 .I44 - Reserve, 6th fl. Three volume set includes both pattern and non-pattern civil jury instructions.  Coverage includes civil actions, torts, contracts, and statutory actions.  

• Illinois Non-Pattern Jury Instructions 3rd: Annotated IPI Companion.  West Group (2001- ).  KFI 1742.6 .R69 - Reserve, 6th Fl.  This two-volume set provides IPI instructions with annotations and non-pattern instructions for those subjects not covered by IPI.  Includes both civil and criminal instructions.