Maricopa Arizona Jury Instruction — Character Evidence, often referred to as MARI, is a set of guidelines provided to jurors in Maricopa County, Arizona, to help them understand how character evidence should be considered during a trial. Character evidence refers to evidence that helps establish a person's character traits or predispositions, which may be relevant to the case being tried. 1. MARI — Character EvidenceMARIJI provides detailed instructions to jurors on how to evaluate character evidence and its significance in a trial. It explains that character evidence can be used to infer a person's conduct or behavior in a certain situation, allowing jurors to make judgments about credibility, honesty, or propensity to commit a certain type of act. 2. MARI — Propensity Evidence: One type of character evidence covered in MARI is propensity evidence. This refers to evidence that suggests a person's character trait or propensity to act in a certain way. For example, if an individual has a history of violent behavior, it may indicate a propensity to commit violent acts, making them more likely to be guilty of a crime involving violence. 3. MARI — Reputation Evidence: Another type of character evidence discussed in MARI is reputation evidence. This refers to evidence presented about a person's general reputation within a community or social circle. Reputation evidence can help jurors assess whether the person in question is likely to have acted in a particular manner based on their overall reputation among peers. 4. MARI — Specific Instances of ConductMARIJI also addresses the admissibility of specific instances of conduct as character evidence. Specific instances of conduct involve presenting evidence of past actions or behaviors that are relevant to the case at hand. However, MARI provides guidelines on when such evidence is admissible and how much weight it should carry in reaching a verdict. 5. MARI — Witness Credibility: Character evidence can also be used to evaluate the credibility of a witness. By examining a witness's character and reputation, jurors can determine the witness's trustworthiness and reliability. MARI provides instructions on how jurors should evaluate character evidence when assessing a witness's credibility. 6. Limitations of Character Evidence: MARI instructs jurors on the limitations of character evidence, emphasizing that character evidence alone is not sufficient to establish guilt or innocence. It explains that character evidence should be evaluated in conjunction with other evidence presented in the trial to reach a fair and impartial verdict. In summary, Maricopa Arizona Jury Instruction — Character EvidenceMARIJI) is a set of guidelines provided to jurors in Maricopa County, Arizona, highlighting various types of character evidence, such as propensity evidence, reputation evidence, and specific instances of conduct. It educates jurors on the proper evaluation and limitations of character evidence in order to make informed decisions during a trial.