Please join the Massachusetts Bar Association's Civil Litigation Section and
two distinguished Superior Court judges as they discuss the Superior Court's new
model jury instructions.
Several years ago, the Superior Court appointed a committee to develop "plain
English" model jury instructions designed to be more understandable to jurors.
The committee's work included surveys of potential jurors exploring what terms
are more and less understandable, followed by the drafting and sequential
release of new "plain English" instructions on different types of claims heard
by the Superior Court.
One of the members of the committee, Superior Court Judge Valerie Yarashus,
has agreed to participate in a program for the MBA, in which she will discuss
the history of the model jury instructions committee, what the committee is
currently working on, and how the new model instructions are being used.
Superior Court Judge Gregg Pasquale, who is currently chair of the subcommittee
on civil instructions, has also agreed to participate in the program, as has
Alex Philipson, the Superior Court's chief counsel, who has been assisting in
the committee's work.
The program will provide a rare opportunity for MBA members to learn more
about the development of the new instructions, and to ask questions about
them.
This program will be held live in person at the MBA, 20 West St., Boston and
livestreamed by Zoom. Registration for this program is required by
Monday, Jan. 12, at 4 p.m. An email from MassBar Education
will be sent before the program.