§ Rule 51(a) Instructions to Jury; Objection

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Rule 51(a). Instructions to Jury; Objection

    Immediately after the jury is sworn, the court shall instruct the jury concerning its duties, its conduct, the order of proceedings, the procedure for submitting written questions of witnesses or of the court as set forth in Rule 39(b)(10), the procedure for note-taking, the nature of evidence and its evaluation, any issues to be addressed, and the elementary legal principles that will govern the proceeding. The instructions shall be provided in a manner that makes them as readily understandable as possible by individuals unfamiliar with the legal system. Prior to the commencement of a jury trial or at such other time during the trial as the court reasonably directs, any party may file written requests that the court instruct the jury on the law as set forth in the requests. Counsel shall be deemed to have waived request for other instructions except those which could not reasonably have been anticipated prior to trial. The court shall inform counsel of its proposed action upon the requests prior to their arguments to the jury. The court, at its election, may instruct the jury before or after argument, or both. No party may assign as error the giving or the failure to give an instruction unless that party objects thereto before the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating distinctly the matter objected to and the grounds of the objection. Opportunity shall be given to make the objection out of hearing of the jury. All communications between the court and members of the jury panel shall be in writing or on the record.