King Washington Jury Instruction — DeliberatIgnorancenc— - As Proof Of Knowledge Keywords: King Washington, jury instruction, deliberate ignorance, proof of knowledge Description: The King Washington jury instruction on deliberate ignorance as proof of knowledge is an important legal concept used in criminal cases. This instruction tackles the issue of whether a defendant can claim lack of knowledge about a crime when they purposely ignored or avoided seeking information related to the illegal activity. The instruction serves as a guideline for the jury to consider when determining the defendant's guilt or innocence. It emphasizes that a person cannot escape liability by deliberately choosing not to know facts or information that would lead to their awareness of a criminal activity. There are different types or variations of the King Washington jury instruction on deliberate ignorance — proof of knowledge, including: 1. Deliberate Ignorance Jury Instruction: This type of instruction emphasizes that defendants cannot avoid criminal liability merely by claiming they did not possess knowledge of the crime. If the jury finds that the defendant deliberately refrained from seeking knowledge, they may consider this as evidence of the defendant's actual knowledge and intent. 2. Conscious Avoidance Jury Instruction: Also known as the "ostrich instruction," this type focuses on cases in which the defendant purposely avoided learning about the illegal activity, either by closing their eyes to obvious facts or by deliberately remaining ignorant. The instruction directs the jury to consider such behavior as evidence of the defendant's knowledge and culpability. 3. Willful Blindness Jury Instruction: Similar to conscious avoidance, this type of jury instruction addresses situations where the defendant deliberately chose to remain ignorant by failing to inquire or investigate suspicious circumstances. The instruction guides the jury to treat this deliberate ignorance as a form of knowledge and intent. It is crucial to note that the use of the King Washington jury instruction on deliberate ignorance as proof of knowledge depends on the jurisdiction and specific rules of the court where the trial takes place. The court, based on the circumstances of the case, determines whether this instruction should be included and to what extent it should be explained to the jury. Overall, the King Washington jury instruction on deliberate ignorance — proof of knowledge seeks to ensure that a defendant cannot escape criminal liability by purposefully ignoring facts or evidence that would lead to their awareness of a crime. It aims to firmly establish that deliberate ignorance can be considered as proof of knowledge and intent in the eyes of the law.