Opinion ID: 1668434
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: failure to use pattern jury instructions

Text: The trial judge refused to use the pattern criminal jury instructions. Instead, the trial judge explained that he preferred to draft his own instructions, to make them more readable for the jury. Latham claims the trial court is mandated to use the criminal pattern jury instructions, but Latham has provided no authority to support that contention. [3] While this Court has approved the use of pattern instructions, State v. Christopherson, 482 N.W.2d 298 (S.D.1982); State v. Andrews, 393 N.W.2d 76 (S.D.1986), we have not required that trial courts use the pattern jury instructions. [4] Rather, all that is required is that jury instructions, read as a whole, correctly state the law and inform the jury. Schuster, 502 N.W.2d at 568; State v. Oster, 495 N.W.2d 305 (S.D.1993); State v. Johnston, 478 N.W.2d 281 (S.D.1991). Latham has not shown or even argued that the jury instructions, when read as a whole, incorrectly stated the law or misinformed the jury. We affirm the trial court in all respects. MILLER, C.J., and HENDERSON, SABERS and AMUNDSON, JJ., concur. SABERS, J., concurs specially.