A quick primer on jury instructions

Mediation Circus

By Michael R. Panter

Hon. Michael R. Panter (Ret.) is a senior mediator at ADR Systems of America LLC. He previously served in the Law, Family and Municipal Divisions of the Cook County Circuit Court. He was a trial lawyer for 30 years. Share responses and comments at mikepanter.com.

Posted January 29, 2019 9:24 AM

Trying to explain what makes a good trial lawyer is tough.You don’t have to dress like Gerry Spence.You don’t have to browbeat a witness like Tom Cruise.I haven’t seen much suspender-snapping like Clarence Darrow, and I’ve definitely never seen Elle Woods.But, if you don’t know the jury instructions, you are never going to get very far.Not at trial. Not in settlements. Not in motions.I’ve written a lot about Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction 15.01, regarding proximate cause in civil …

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