North Carolina Pattern Jury Instructions are sample jury instructions organized by legal topic. Trial judges use them for particular cases based on the relevant law and facts, and share them with juries as guidance for reaching a decision in their cases. The instructions are created and compiled by The Pattern Jury Instruction Committee, made up of trial judges assisted by the School of Government and supported by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. The Committee publishes annual supplements, based on changes in statutory and case law.
A collection of all Pattern Jury Instructions are available to purchase in three individual volumes (Criminal, Civil, and Motor Vehicle Negligence), or individual instructions in PDF format may be downloaded for free.
The Committee may identify new or updated instructions that are too important to wait until annual supplements are distributed. Interim Instructions will be posted here. They will remain posted to the site until supplements that will include these instructions are available.
Interim Instructions Listserv: You may check here periodically for Interim Instructions or join the Pattern Jury Interim Instructions Listserv to receive notification when Interim Instructions are posted here.
