§ RULE 51 INSTRUCTIONS TO JURY: OBJECTION

Codes > Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure > VI Trials > RULE 51

RULE 51. INSTRUCTIONS TO JURY: OBJECTION

    At the close of the evidence or at such earlier time as the court may reasonably direct, any party may submit requested jury instructions to the court. The court shall inform counsel of its proposed action upon the requested instructions and also inform counsel of all other instructions it proposes to submit to the jury. The court shall instruct the jury prior to the arguments of counsel. No party may assign as error the giving or the failure to give an instruction unless he objects thereto before or at the time the instruction is given, stating distinctly the matter to which he objects and the grounds of his objection, and no party may assign as error the failure to instruct on any issue unless such party has submitted a proposed instruction on that issue. Opportunity shall be given to make objections to instructions out of the hearing of the jury.

    A mere general objection shall not be sufficient to obtain appellate review of the court's action relating to instructions to the jury except as to an instruction directing a verdict or the court's action in declining to do so.