Oregon Jury Instruction — Preliminary Instructions Before Opening Statements — Short Form is a concise set of guidelines provided to jurors before the commencement of a trial in Oregon. These instructions aim to provide jurors with an overview of the trial process and their role in it. Keywords: Oregon, jury instruction, preliminary instructions, opening statements, short form, trial process, jurors. These preliminary instructions ensure that jurors understand their responsibilities and can impartially evaluate the evidence presented during the trial. While there may be variations of these instructions, they primarily cover the following key points: 1. Duties and Responsibilities: Jurors are informed about the importance of their role in the justice system. They are instructed to listen attentively, withhold judgments until all evidence is presented, and decide the case solely based on the facts and evidence presented during the trial. 2. Presumption of Innocence: The instruction emphasizes that the defendant is presumed innocent and that this presumption must be maintained throughout the trial. It reminds jurors that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution and that the defendant does not bear the responsibility of proving innocence. 3. Opening Statements: Jurors are informed about the upcoming opening statements, which are introductory statements made by both the prosecution and defense outlining the facts and legal theories they intend to present during the trial. Jurors are advised that these statements are not evidence and should not be considered as such. 4. Evidence: Jurors are provided with an overview of the different types of evidence they may encounter during the trial. They are told that evidence includes testimonies, exhibits, expert opinions, and any other materials formally presented in court. Jurors are encouraged to evaluate the credibility of witnesses, the weight of evidence, and properly assess any objections or exclusions made by the judge. 5. Legal Instructions: The instruction emphasizes that legal instructions will be provided at the conclusion of the trial, once the evidence has been presented. Jurors are instructed to follow these instructions and apply the law as provided by the judge. It is important to note that these preliminary instructions can vary to adapt to the specific circumstances of each trial. They may include additional information based on the nature of the case, the specific charges faced by the defendant, or any other relevant considerations. In conclusion, Oregon Jury Instruction — Preliminary Instructions Before Opening Statements — Short Form is a concise set of guidelines provided to jurors before a trial. These instructions ensure that jurors understand their duties, maintain the presumption of innocence, and grasp the overall trial process.