It can be useful to approach a case by first reading the applicable jury instructions. This allows the attorney to think about the case from the vantage point of what will have to be proven or rebutted at trial. Pattern instructions are formally adopted by specific jurisdictions and their use may be mandatory in certain cases. Other "substantive" instructions are written for specific types of cases and should be adapted as needed.
The Tenth Circuit has Pattern Criminal Jury Instructions on their website.
Judicial Conference of the United States, Subcommittee on Pattern Jury Instructions, Pattern Criminal Jury Instructions (St. Paul: West Pub. Co., 1988). Call # KF 9682 .A65 J83.
Federal Jury Practice and Instruction (St. Paul: West Group, 2006). Call # KF 8984 .D4 2006. Available from the Westlaw Classic databases (FED-JI); (FED-JICIV); and (FED-JICRIM).
Modern Federal Jury Instructions (New York: M. Bender, 1984). Call # KF 9682 .A65 M64. This set contains substantive instructions on specific subjects and pattern instructions from federal circuits around the country. Available from the LexisNexis library (MOFJI).
