The Supreme Judicial Court announced on Mar. 30 the release of updated Model Jury Instructions on Homicide, reflecting changes in the law since the last revision in 2018. The new instructions are available along with supporting materials such as a chalk, a statement from the justices, and a summary of principal revisions on the court’s website.
These updates are significant because clear and current jury instructions help ensure fair trials in homicide cases. The court first issued model jury instructions in 1999 and has revised them twice before, most recently in 2018.
Associate Justice Frank Gaziano chaired the Standing Committee responsible for this update. “Given the complexity of our homicide law, it is always a challenging task to compile clear, concise, and accurate instructions,” Gaziano said. “I am grateful to the members of the Committee who dedicated their time and expertise to the 2026 update, as well as to those who submitted thoughtful comments on the draft revisions that were published for comment.” The court also released an official statement approving and recommending use of these revised guidelines.
The Supreme Judicial Court recommends that judges provide jurors with written copies or audio recordings of final instructions when possible. An appendix chalk titled Requirements of Proof for Homicide is included to help jurors follow along during deliberations. The committee will continue monitoring legal developments and consider further updates based on feedback sent to timothy.maguire@jud.state.ma.us.
According to its official website, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court acts as the final authority on state law within the Commonwealth, handling appellate jurisdiction over lower courts’ decisions. It stands as both one of oldest continuously functioning appellate courts in Western Hemisphere and contributes through educational outreach about judicial processes.The court also oversees regulation of legal practice statewide, supports public access to opinions, and provides advisory opinions for key issues facing government leaders.
