King Washington Jury Instruction - Impeachment - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction - Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction

• Category: Federal - Jury Instructions - Basic Criminal Claim Instructions
• State: Multi-State
• County: King
• Control #: US-11CR-6-6
• Format: Word; Rich Text

Description

This form contains sample jury instructions, to be used across the United States. These questions are to be used only as a model, and should be altered to more perfectly fit your own cause of action needs. In King Washington, the jury instruction on impeachment includes a specific circumstance known as "Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction." This instruction is given when the defendant, who has been convicted of a felony, decides to testify in their own defense, but their testimony contradicts a previous statement they made outside the courtroom. In such cases, the inconsistency between the defendant's statement and their felony conviction becomes crucial evidence to be presented to the jury. By introducing this jury instruction, the court aims to guide jurors in properly evaluating the defendant's credibility and assessing the weight to be given to their testimony. This particular jury instruction serves two purposes. Firstly, it highlights the defendant's prior felony conviction, informing the jurors about their prior criminal record. This information is relevant as it may affect the jury's perception of the defendant's credibility. The argument is that since the defendant has already been found guilty of a serious crime in the past, it may cast doubt on their truthfulness or reliability when providing contradicting testimony. Secondly, the instruction addresses the inconsistency between the defendant's prior statement and their current testimony. The court instructs the jury to consider, evaluate, and weigh this inconsistency in determining the credibility and weight of the defendant's statement. It is important to note that while there may be variations in terminology used for this jury instruction in different jurisdictions, the underlying principle remains the same. Variations may include alternative names such as "Prior Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction" or "Inconsistent Prior Statement and Defendant's Felony Conviction." The specific naming may differ, but the purpose and substance of the instruction remain consistent. In summary, the King Washington Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction is used to guide jurors in assessing the credibility and weight of a defendant's testimony when it contradicts a prior statement made outside the courtroom and when the defendant has a previous felony conviction. This instruction ensures that jurors have the necessary information to make an informed decision based on the supplied evidence.

In King Washington, the jury instruction on impeachment includes a specific circumstance known as "Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction." This instruction is given when the defendant, who has been convicted of a felony, decides to testify in their own defense, but their testimony contradicts a previous statement they made outside the courtroom. In such cases, the inconsistency between the defendant's statement and their felony conviction becomes crucial evidence to be presented to the jury. By introducing this jury instruction, the court aims to guide jurors in properly evaluating the defendant's credibility and assessing the weight to be given to their testimony. This particular jury instruction serves two purposes. Firstly, it highlights the defendant's prior felony conviction, informing the jurors about their prior criminal record. This information is relevant as it may affect the jury's perception of the defendant's credibility. The argument is that since the defendant has already been found guilty of a serious crime in the past, it may cast doubt on their truthfulness or reliability when providing contradicting testimony. Secondly, the instruction addresses the inconsistency between the defendant's prior statement and their current testimony. The court instructs the jury to consider, evaluate, and weigh this inconsistency in determining the credibility and weight of the defendant's statement. It is important to note that while there may be variations in terminology used for this jury instruction in different jurisdictions, the underlying principle remains the same. Variations may include alternative names such as "Prior Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction" or "Inconsistent Prior Statement and Defendant's Felony Conviction." The specific naming may differ, but the purpose and substance of the instruction remain consistent. In summary, the King Washington Jury Instruction Impeachmenten— - Inconsistent Statement and Felony Conviction — Defendant Testifies With Felony Conviction is used to guide jurors in assessing the credibility and weight of a defendant's testimony when it contradicts a prior statement made outside the courtroom and when the defendant has a previous felony conviction. This instruction ensures that jurors have the necessary information to make an informed decision based on the supplied evidence.