Model Jury Instructions

The NJI hosts a set of model jury instructions for criminal cases, which were created by the Canadian Judicial Council’s (CJC) National Committee on Jury Instructions. These jury instructions provide judges with standard language which they may use when speaking with members of juries about their duties, the nature of the criminal charge before the court, and the legal rules which apply to the jury's deliberations.

To read the Preface and Note to Users from the CJC, click here.

A. Preliminary Instructions

1. Instructions to the Jury Panel

2. Instructions Relating to the Jury Selection Process - (REFLECTING LAW COMING INTO FORCE ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2019)

3. Opening Instructions to the Trial Jury

4. Instructions on Trial Procedure

5. Fundamental Principles

6. Concluding Instructions

B. Mid-Trial Instructions

C. Final Instructions

8. Duties of Jurors

9. General Principles

10. Types of Evidence

11. Rules of evidence

12. Deliberations

13. Thanks and Secrecy Reminder

1. Assaults

2. Controlled Drugs and Substances

3. Criminal Negligence

4. Criminal Organization

5. Firearms

6. Homicide and Attempted Murder

7. Sexual Offences

8. Terrorism

1. Accident

2. Automatism

3. Duress

4. Intoxication

5. Mental Disorder

6. Necessity

7. Provocation - Repealed July 16, 2015

8. Provocation - In force July 16, 2015

9. Self-defence Repealed March 2013

10. Self-defence – In Force

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