Harris Texas Jury Instruction — 3.3.1 Section 1, Per Se Violation Conspiracy To Fix Prices — Includes Alternative Rule of Reason Instruction is an important legal guideline used in the Harris County, Texas judicial system to instruct juries regarding antitrust laws and violations related to price-fixing conspiracies. This particular instruction deals specifically with per se violations of conspiracy to fix prices in the economic marketplace, and also encompasses an alternative rule of reason instruction. Per se violation refers to a type of antitrust violation where the conduct or agreement is deemed inherently illegal on its face, without the need for further analysis. In the context of price-fixing conspiracies, this means that the agreement or collusion between competitors to fix prices is considered illegal regardless of its actual market impact or justification. The purpose of Harris Texas Jury Instruction — 3.3.1 Section 1 is to outline the elements that need to be proven in order to establish a per se violation of conspiracy to fix prices. These elements typically include: 1. The existence of an agreement: The prosecution must demonstrate that there was a mutual understanding or agreement among two or more competitors to fix prices. 2. Knowledge and willingness: The prosecution needs to establish that the defendants knowingly and willingly participated in the agreement, fully understanding its purpose to fix prices. 3. The agreement's effect on interstate commerce: The prosecution must demonstrate that the price-fixing agreement had an impact on interstate commerce. This is important to establish jurisdiction under federal antitrust laws. Additionally, the alternative rule of reason instruction may also be included within this jury instruction. The rule of reason approach involves a more comprehensive analysis of the alleged anticompetitive conduct. It takes into account various factors such as the size of the market, the nature of the alleged restraint, and potential pro-competitive justifications. If the defense presents evidence justifying the agreement as having a net positive impact on competition, the jury must consider the rule of reason test to determine whether the agreement violates antitrust laws or whether it falls within acceptable boundaries. Overall, Harris Texas Jury Instruction — 3.3.1 Section 1, Per Se Violation Conspiracy To Fix Prices — Includes Alternative Rule of Reason Instruction provides guidance to jurors in understanding and evaluating cases related to price-fixing conspiracies in Harris County, Texas. It ensures that juries have a clear understanding of the legal standards and principles involved in determining antitrust violations and assists them in reaching a fair and informed verdict.