Santa Clara County, located in the state of California, follows specific guidelines and instructions when it comes to jury verdicts. The Santa Clara California Jury Instruction — Verdict provides crucial guidance to jurors during trial proceedings and ensures a fair and unbiased decision-making process. Here, we will discuss the key aspects of this instruction and its various types. The Santa Clara California Jury Instruction — Verdict serves as a comprehensive set of guidelines that inform jurors about the legal principles, evidence evaluation, and decision-making process throughout a trial. It encompasses multiple types of instructions, each addressing different scenarios and legal concepts. Some prominent types include: 1. General Verdict Instruction: This instruction outlines the process for delivering a general verdict, in which the jury is required to consider all the evidence presented and apply the law to reach a unanimous decision. 2. Special Verdict Instruction: In cases involving complex legal issues or multiple claims, the court may provide a special verdict instruction. This instruction requires the jury to answer specific questions related to each claim or issue in order to reach a verdict. It ensures clarity and avoids confusion in complex cases. 3. Unanimous Verdict Instruction: A unanimous verdict instruction is given to emphasize that the jury must come to a unanimous decision on the outcome of the trial. It reminds jurors of their responsibility to engage in open discussions, deliberate over the evidence, and reach a collective conclusion. 4. Burden of Proof Instruction: This instruction highlights the burden of proof placed on the prosecution or plaintiff in a criminal or civil case, respectively. It explains that the burden lies with the party making the claim and that they must prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt or by a preponderance of the evidence, depending on the type of case. 5. Credibility Instruction: Credibility instructions educate jurors on assessing the credibility of witnesses and evaluating their testimony. They encourage jurors to consider a witness's demeanor, consistency, bias, and other factors while determining the reliability of their statements. 6. Damages Instruction: In cases where the jury is responsible for determining the amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff, the damages' instruction provides guidelines on how to calculate and assign damages reasonably and fairly. These are just a few examples of the diverse types of Santa Clara California Jury Instruction — Verdict that aid jurors in understanding the legal framework and directing their decision-making process. It is crucial for jurors to adhere to these instructions to ensure a fair trial and just outcomes.