Title: In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Civil, Criminal, and Contract & Business Cases – Jurors’ Use of Electronic Devices

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC14-623 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CIVIL, CRIMINAL, AND 
CONTRACT & BUSINESS CASES—JURORS’ USE OF ELECTRONIC 
DEVICES. 
 
[December 4, 2014] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Supreme Court Committees on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil, 
Criminal, and Contract and Business Cases (Committees) have submitted proposed 
changes to their respective standard jury instructions and ask that the Court 
authorize the amended standard instructions for publication and use.  We have 
jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
 
In In re Amendments to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration—Rule 
2.451 (Use of Electronic Devices), 118 So. 3d 193, 194 n.3 (Fla. 2013), the Court 
requested the Committees “to review their respective bodies of instructions and 
propose any amendments needed to conform the instructions to [new rule 2.451].” 
 
Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.451(b) gives trial judges 
considerable discretion for how and when to remove electronic devices from 
 
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jurors.  The rule provides that electronic devices will be removed from all 
members of a jury panel before jury deliberations begin.  The presiding judge may 
remove the jurors’ electronic devices at other stages of the trial.  If electronic 
devices are removed from members of the jury panel during trial, the judge may 
order them returned during recesses.  If a jury panel is sequestered, the judge may 
decide whether to remove electronic devices during the entire period of 
sequestration.  The rule also makes clear that during court proceedings, jurors 
cannot use their electronic devices to take photos or videos, or to transmit or access 
data or text.  At all times, jurors are prohibited from using the devices to research 
information about the case or to communicate with others about the case or jury 
deliberations. 
 
The three Committees formed a joint subcommittee to consider rule 2.451, 
with the goal of working together to draft uniform language on electronic devices 
that could be used in each Committee’s instructions.  The Civil Committee and the 
Contract and Business Committee propose amending the following instructions: 
Qualifications Instruction; Instruction 201.2 (Introduction of Participants and Their 
Roles); Instruction 201.3 (Explanation of the Voir Dire Process); Instruction 202.2 
(Explanation of the Trial Procedure); Instruction 301.10 (Instruction Before 
Recess); and Instruction Section 700 (Closing Instructions).  The Criminal 
Committee proposes amendments to the following criminal instructions: 
 
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Qualifications Instruction; Instruction 1.1 (Introduction); Instruction 2.1 
(Preliminary Instructions); and Instruction 3.13 (Submitting Case to Jury); and 
amendments to the following instructions for Involuntary Civil Commitment of 
Sexually Violent Predator (Jimmy Ryce) cases: Qualifications Instruction; 
Instruction 1.001 (Introduction); Instruction 1.01 (Preliminary Instruction); and 
Instruction 2.08 (Verdict and Submitting Case to Jury). 
 
All of the proposals were published in The Florida Bar News, except the 
Criminal Committee did make some revisions to its proposals that were not 
republished.  The Criminal Committee made revisions to its proposals in light of 
the proposals made by the Civil and Contracts and Business Committees’ 
proposals.  No comments were received by the Committees. 
 
Having considered the Committees’ report, we authorize for publication and 
use the standard jury instructions as amended by the Committees, with additional 
amendments added by the Court.  The criminal jury instructions, including both 
those directly pertaining to criminal cases (Qualifications Instruction, Instruction 
1.1 (Introduction), and Instruction 2.1 (Preliminary Instructions)) and those for 
Involuntary Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predator (Jimmy Ryce) cases 
(Qualifications Instruction and  Instruction 1.01 (Preliminary Instruction)), are also 
amended, consistent with the Civil and Contracts and Business Committees’ 
proposals, to make clear that failure to follow the court’s instructions concerning 
 
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the use of electronic devices may result in a mistrial and that the offending juror 
may be subject to contempt of court. 
We authorize the amended instructions, as set forth in the appendix to this 
opinion, for publication and use.1  We thank the joint subcommittee and the 
Committees for their work in proposing modifications to the standard jury 
instructions consistent with rule 2.451.  New language is indicated by underlining, 
and deleted language is indicated by struck-through type.  In authorizing the 
publication and use of these instructions, we express no opinion on their 
correctness and remind all interested parties that this authorization forecloses 
neither requesting additional or alternative instructions nor contesting the legal 
correctness of the instructions.  We further caution all interested parties that any 
comments associated with the instructions reflect only the opinion of the 
Committees and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their 
correctness or applicability.  The instructions as set forth in the appendix shall 
become effective when this opinion becomes final. 
                                          
 
 
1.  With regard to the Criminal Jury Instructions, the amendments as 
reflected in the appendix are to the Criminal Jury Instructions as they appear on the 
Court’s website at www.floridasupremecourt.org/jury_instructions/instructions. 
shtml.  We recognize that there may be minor discrepancies between the 
instructions as they appear on the website and the published versions of the 
instructions.  Any discrepancies as to instructions authorized for publication and 
use after October 25, 2007, should be resolved by reference to the published 
opinion of this Court authorizing the instruction. 
 
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It is so ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.  
 
Original Proceeding – Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions  
 
Joseph Hagedorn Lang, Jr., Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury 
Instructions in Civil Cases, Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, P.A., Tampa, Florida, 
Rebecca Mercier Vargas, Subcommittee Chair, Juror Conduct Civil Subcommittee, 
Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, Kreusler-
Walsh, Compiani & Vargas, P.A., West Palm Beach, Florida, and Heather Savage 
Telfer, Bar Staff Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida; Judge Jerri Lynn 
Collins, Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in 
Criminal Cases, Sanford, Florida, Judge Joseph Anthony Bulone, Past Chair, 
Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, 
Clearwater, Florida, and Bart Neil Schneider, Staff Liaison, Office of the State 
Courts Administrator, Tallahassee, Florida; Manuel Farach, Chair, Supreme Court 
Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Contract and Business Cases, Richman 
Greer, P.A., West Palm Beach, Florida, and Josine Rene Blackwell, Bar Staff 
Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida,  
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
Standard Jury Instructions for  
Civil Cases and Contract and Business Cases 
QUALIFICATIONS INSTRUCTION 
 
Many of you have electronic devices such as cell phones, smartphones, 
tablets, and laptopscomputers, and other electronic devices.  Even though you 
have not yet been selected as a juror, there are some strict rules that you must 
follow about using your cell phones, electronic devices and computers.   
When you are called to a courtroom, the judge will give you specific 
instructions on the use of electronic devices.  These rules are so important that 
the judge may tell you that you must turn off your cell phone or other 
electronic devices completely or that you cannot have your cell phone or 
electronic devices in the courtroom.  If someone needs to contact you in case of 
an emergency, the judge will provide you with a phone number where you can 
receive messages.     
If the trial judge allows you to keep your cell phones, computers, or 
other electronic devices, you cannot use them to take photographs, video 
recordings, or audio recordings of the proceedings in the courtroom or your 
fellow jurors.  You must not use themany device to search the Internet or to 
find out anything related to any cases in the courthouse.  
Why is this restriction imposed?  This restriction is imposed because 
jurors must decide the case without distraction and only on the evidence 
presented in the courtroom.  I know that, for some of you, these restrictions 
affect your normal daily activities and may require a change in the way you 
are used to communicating and perhaps even in the way you are used to 
learning. 
If you investigate, research, or make inquiries on your own, the trial 
judge has no way to make sure that the information you obtain is proper for 
the case.  The parties likewise have no opportunity to dispute or challenge the 
accuracy of what you find.  Any independent investigation by a juror unfairly 
and improperly prevents the parties from having that opportunity our 
judicial system promises. 
 
Between now and when you have been discharged from jury duty by the 
judge, you must not provide or receivediscuss any information about your 
jury service towith anyone, including friends, co-workers, and family 
members. You may tell those who need to know where you are that you have 
 
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been called for jury duty. If you are picked for a jury, you may tell people that 
you have been picked for a jury and how long the case may take. However, 
you must not give anyone any information about the case itself or the people 
involved in the case. You must also warn people not to try to say anything to 
you or write to you about your jury service or the case. This includes face-to-
face, phone or computer communications.  
 
In this age of electronic communication,I want to stress that you must 
not use electronic devices or computers to talk about this case, including 
tweeting, texting, blogging, e-mailing, posting information on a website or 
chat room, or any other means at all.  Do not send or accept any messages, 
including e-mail and text messages, about your jury service. You must not 
disclose your thoughts about your jury service or ask for advice on how to 
decide any case.   
After you are called to the courtroom, the judge will give you specific 
instructions about these matters.  TheA judge will tell you when you are 
released from this instruction.  Remember, these rules are designed to 
guarantee a fair trial.  It is important that you understand the rules as well as 
the impact on our system of justice if you fail to follow them.  If it is 
determined that any one of you has violated this rule, and conducted any type 
of independent research or investigation, it may result in a mistrial.  A 
mistrial would require the case to be tried again at great expense to the 
parties and the judicial system.  The judge may also impose a penalty upon 
any juror who violates this instruction.  All of us are depending on you to 
follow these rules, so that there will be a fair and lawful resolution of every 
case.  
NOTE ON USE 
 
This instruction should be given in addition to and at the conclusion of the 
instructions normally given to the prospective jurors.  The portion of this 
instruction dealing with communication with others and outside research may need 
to be modified to include other specified means of communication or research as 
technology develops. 
 
201.2 INTRODUCTION OF PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR ROLES 
 
Who are the people here and what do they do?  
 
 
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Judge/Court: I am the Judge. You may hear people occasionally refer to 
me as “The Court.” That is the formal name for my role. My job is to 
maintain order and decide how to apply the rules of the law to the trial. I will 
also explain various rules to you that you will need to know in order to do 
your job as the jury. It is my job to remain neutral on the issues of this 
lawsuit.  
Parties: A party who files a lawsuit is called the Plaintiff. A party that is 
sued is called the Defendant. 
Attorneys: The attorneys have the job of representing their clients. That 
means they speak for their client here at the trial. They have taken oaths as 
attorneys to do their best and to follow the rules for their profession.  
Plaintiff’s Counsel: The attorney on this side of the courtroom, (introduce 
by name), represents (client name) and is the person who filed the lawsuit here 
at the courthouse. [His] [Her] job is to present [his] [her] client’s side of things 
to you. [He] [She] and [his] [her] client will be referred to most of the time as 
“the plaintiff.” (Attorney name), will you please introduce who is sitting at the 
table with you? 
[Plaintiff without Counsel: (Introduce claimant by name), on this side of the 
courtroom, is the person who filed the lawsuit at the courthouse. (Claimant) is 
not represented by an attorney and will present [his] [her] side of things to 
you [himself] [herself]]. 
Defendant’s Counsel: The attorney on this side of the courtroom, 
(introduce by name), represents (client name), the one who has been sued. [His] 
[Her] job is to present [his] [her] client’s side of things to you. [He] [She] and 
[his] [her] client will usually be referred to here as “the defendant.” (Attorney 
name), will you please introduce who is sitting at the table with you? 
[Defendant’s Counsel: The attorney on this side of the courtroom, 
(introduce by name), represents (client name), the one who has been sued. [His] 
[Her] job is to present [his] [her] client’s side of things to you. [He] [She] and 
[his] [her] client will usually be referred to here as “the defendant.” [His] 
[Her] client (defendant uninsured or underinsured motorist carrier) is (claimant’s 
name) motor vehicle insurance company and provided [him] [her] [uninsured] 
[underinsured] motorist coverage, which may be available to pay some or all 
of the damages that may be awarded.]* 
 
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*Use the bracketed paragraph above when the case involves an uninsured 
or underinsured motorist carrier. 
 
[Defendant without Counsel: (Introduce defendant by name), on this side of 
the courtroom, is the one who has been sued. (Defendant) is not represented by 
an attorney and will present [his] [her] side of things to you [himself] 
[herself]]. 
Court Clerk: This person sitting in front of me, (name), is the court clerk. 
[He] [She] is here to assist me with some of the mechanics of the trial process, 
including the numbering and collection of the exhibits that are introduced in 
the course of the trial.  
Court Reporter: The person sitting at the stenographic machine, (name), 
is the court reporter. [His] [Her] job is to keep an accurate legal record of 
everything we say and do during this trial.  
Bailiff: The person over there, (name), is the bailiff. [His] [Her] job is to 
maintain order and security in the courtroom. The bailiff is also my 
representative to the jury. Anything you need or any problems that come up 
for you during the course of the trial should be brought to [him] [her]. 
However, the bailiff cannot answer any of your questions about the case. Only 
I can do that. 
Jury: Last, but not least, is the jury, which we will begin to select in a 
few moments from among all of you. The jury’s job will be to decide what the 
facts are and what the facts mean. Jurors should be as neutral as possible at 
this point and have no fixed opinion about the lawsuit.  
In order to have a fair and lawful trial, there are rules that all jurors 
must follow. A basic rule is that jurors must decide the case only on the 
evidence presented in the courtroom. You must not communicate with 
anyone, including friends and family members, about this case, the people and 
places involved, or your jury service. You must not disclose your thoughts 
about this case or ask for advice on how to decide this case.   
I want to stress that this rule means you must not use electronic devices 
or computers to communicate about this case, including tweeting, texting, 
blogging, e-mailing, posting information on a website or chat room, or any 
other means at all. Do not send or accept any messages to or from anyone 
about this case or your jury service.   
 
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You must not do any research or look up words, names, [maps], or 
anything else that may have anything to do with this case. This includes 
reading newspapers, watching television or using a computer, cell phone, the 
Internet, any electronic device, or any other means at all, to get information 
related to this case or the people and places involved in this case. This applies 
whether you are in the courthouse, at home, or anywhere else.  
Many of you may have cell phones, tablets, laptops or other electronic 
devices with you here in the courtroom.**    
 
**The trial judge should select one of the following two alternative 
instructions explaining the rules governing jurors’ use of electronic devices, 
as explained in Note on Use 1.     
Alternative A:  [All cell phones, computers, tablets or other types of 
electronic devices must be turned off while you are in the courtroom.  Turned 
off means that the phone or other electronic device is actually off and not in a 
silent or vibrating mode.  You may use these devices during recesses, but even 
then you may not use your cell phone or electronic device to find out any 
information about the case or communicate with anyone about the case or the 
people involved in the case.  Do not take photographs, video recordings or 
audio recordings of the proceedings or of your fellow jurors.  After each 
recess, please double check to make sure your cell phone or electronic device 
is turned off.  At the end of the case, while you are deliberating, you must not 
communicate with anyone outside the jury room.  You cannot have in the jury 
room any cell phones, computers, or other electronic devices.  If someone 
needs to contact you in an emergency, the court can receive messages and 
deliver them to you without delay.  A contact phone number will be provided 
to you.] 
Alternative B: [You cannot have any cell phones, tablets, laptops, or 
other electronic devices in the courtroom.  You may use these devices during 
recesses, but even then you may not use your cell phone or electronic device to 
find out any information about the case or communicate with anyone about 
the case or the people involved in the case.  Do not take photographs, video 
recordings or audio recordings of the proceedings or your fellow jurors.  At 
the end of the case, while you are deliberating, you must not communicate 
with anyone outside the jury room.  If someone needs to contact you in an 
emergency, the court can receive messages and deliver them to you without 
delay.  A contact phone number will be provided to you.] 
 
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All of us are depending on you to follow these rules, so that there will be 
a fair and lawful resolution to this case.  Unlike questions that you may be 
allowed to ask in court, which will be answered in court in the presence of the 
judge and the parties, ifWhat are the reasons for these rules?  These rules are 
imposed because jurors must decide the case without distraction and only on 
the evidence presented in the courtroom.  If you investigate, research, or make 
inquiries on your own outside of the courtroom, the trial judge has no way to 
assure they aremake sure that the information you obtain is properand 
relevant to for the case.  The parties likewise have no opportunity to dispute 
or challenge the accuracy of what you find or to provide rebuttal evidence to 
it. That is contrary to our judicial system, which assures every party the right 
to ask questions about and challenge the evidence being considered against it 
and to present argument with respect to that evidence.  Non-court inquiries 
and investigationsAny independent investigation by a juror unfairly and 
improperly prevents the parties from having that opportunity our judicial 
system promises. 
Any juror who violates these restrictions jeopardizes the fairness of 
these proceedings, and a mistrial could result that would require the entire 
trial process to start over. A mistrial is a tremendous expense and 
inconvenience to the parties, the court, and the taxpayers.  If you violate these 
rules, you may be held in contempt of court, and face sanctions, such as 
serving time in jail, paying a fine or both.  If you become aware of any 
violation of these instructions or any other instruction I give in this case, you 
must tell me by giving a note to the bailiff.