In re Okl. Uniform Jury Instructions

Decision Date28 March 2005
Docket NumberNo. SCAD-2005-19.,SCAD-2005-19.
Citation116 P.3d 119,2005 OK 12
PartiesIn re OKLAHOMA UNIFORM JURY INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUVENILE CASES.
CourtOklahoma Supreme Court
ORDER

¶ 1 The Oklahoma Supreme Court Committee on Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases has completed the Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases which is attached to this Order. To achieve uniformity in instructing juries in juvenile cases on the applicable law, the following order is adopted for the direction of the trial courts:

¶ 2 IT IS ORDERED THAT effective July 1, 2005, all trial courts in Oklahoma shall use the instructions contained within the Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases if the court determines that the subject of the instructions would be appropriate in the particular matter on trial and unless the trial court determines that such recommended instruction does not accurately state the law. In the latter event, it shall be the obligation of the trial court to include within the record the court's reasons for declining to use the recommended uniform instruction. However, by this order the Court is not relinquishing any of its constitutional or statutory authority of review.

¶ 3 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT whenever the Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases do not contain an instruction on a subject which the trial court determines should be submitted to the jury, or whenever a recommended uniform instruction cannot be modified to cover the subject being submitted, it shall then be the duty of the trial court to submit that subject to the jury upon an instruction which will be simple, brief, impartial and free from argument.

¶ 4 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT each instruction shall be identified substantially as follows: "OUJI-Juv. No. ____" or "OUJI-Juv. No. ____ modified" or "Not in OUJI-Juv." as the case may be.

¶ 5 DONE BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT IN CONFERENCE THIS 28th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2005.

                /s/ Joseph M. Watt
                    CHIEF JUSTICE
                

¶ 6 ALL JUSTICES CONCUR.

APPENDIX

OKLAHOMA UNIFORM JURY INSTRUCTIONS

FOR JUVENILE CASES

Prepared by the

Oklahoma Supreme Court Committee for Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases

OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT COMMITTEE FOR UNIFORM JURY INSTRUCTIONS FOR JUVENILE CASES

CHAIR

THE HONORABLE GLENN DALE CARTER

District Judge

Shawnee

REPORTER

CHARLES W. ADAMS

Professor of Law

The University of Tulsa College of Law

MEMBERS

                THE HONORABLE THOMAS H. ALFORD
                District Judge
                Muskogee
                ROBERT E. (GENE) CHRISTIAN
                District Attorney
                Duncan
                MICHELLE BODINE-KEELY
                For TIMOTHY HARRIS
                
                District Attorney
                Tulsa
                THE HONORABLE EDWARD J. HICKS, III
                Special Judge
                Tulsa
                GARY MITCHELL
                For RAY DON JACKSON
                District Attorney
                Woodward
                D. KENT MEYERS
                Oklahoma City
                SAL R. MUNOZ
                Tulsa
                DON R. NICHOLSON II
                Oklahoma City
                THE HONORABLE MARTHA KILGORE
                Associate District Judge
                Ada
                TAMMY J. BACHMAN
                For MITCHELL D. SPERRY
                District Attorney
                Ardmore
                THE HONORABLE ROGER H. STUART
                Special Judge
                Oklahoma City
                ANNE B. SUBLETT
                Tulsa
                ROB WALLACE
                District Attorney
                Poteau
                BRIAN S. WILKERSON
                Tulsa
                

SUMMARY TABLE OF CONTENTS

OKLAHOMA UNIFORM CIVIL JURY INSTRUCTIONS

                Chapter 1 General Instructions .................................................. ___
                Part A. Preliminary Instructions ................................................ ___
                Part B. Concluding Instructions ................................................. ___
                Chapter 2 General Termination Instructions ...................................... ___
                Part A. Simultaneous Adjudication and Termination ............................... ___
                Part B. Termination After Prior Adjudication .................................... ___
                Chapter 3 Grounds for Termination of Parental Rights ............................ ___
                Chapter 4 Minor in Need of Treatment ............................................ ___
                Chapter 5 Indian Child Welfare Act .............................................. ___
                
Chapter One

General Instructions

List Of Contents
                Juvenile      Title                                                                         Page
                Instruction
                No
                              Introductory Note ..........................................................  ___
                                               Part A. Preliminary Instructions
                1.1           Purpose of Termination Proceeding ..........................................  ___
                1.2           Explanation To Jury Panel Of Voir Dire .....................................  ___
                1.3           Oath On Voir Dire ..........................................................  ___
                1.4           Oath Administered To Jury ..................................................  ___
                
                              Jury's Duties—Cautionary Instructions—To Be Given After Jury
                1.5           Is Sworn ...................................................................  ___
                              Jury's Duties—Cautionary Instructions—Bias On Account Of Race
                1.6           Religion, Etc. .............................................................  ___
                1.7           Cautionary Instruction—Note Taking By Jurors .........................  ___
                                               Part B. Concluding Instructions
                1.8           Jury's Duties—Introduction To Instructions—To Be Given After
                              The Evidence ...............................................................  ___
                1.9           Jury's Duties—To Be Given Prior to Deliberation ......................  ___
                1.10          Note Taking By Jurors—To Be Given Prior to Deliberation ..............  ___
                1.11          Mandatory Instruction Upon Discharge .......................................  ___
                
Introductory Note

The Preliminary Instructions in Part A should be given at the beginning of the case, and the Concluding Instructions in Part B should be given after all the evidence has been presented.

Part A—Preliminary Instructions

Juvenile Instruction No. 1.1

Purpose of Termination Proceeding

The purpose of a termination proceeding is to decide whether to break the parental bond. The case is concerned with three separate interests:

1. The parent's right to custody and control of a child.

2. The State's responsibility to protect a child under eighteen (18) years.

3. The child's right to a wholesome place to live, free from abuse and neglect.

The interest of a parent, the State and a child must be carefully weighed. The State's responsibility to protect a child must be balanced against the interest of a parent in the custody and control of a child.

The right of a parent to the custody and control of a child is a fundamental right protected by the Federal and State Constitutions. While the rights of a parent are important and entitled to protection, they must be balanced against those of a child, and where they conflict, the child's rights should be protected.

Committee Comments

This preliminary instruction introduces the jury to the three interests that the jury must weigh in a termination proceeding. It is based on language from In re T.H..L., 1981 OK 103, ¶ 4, 636 P.2d 330, 332.

Juvenile Instruction No. 1.2
Explanation To Jury Panel Of Voir Dire

As possible jurors you will be questioned to determine your qualifications to serve in this case. The purpose of these questions is to obtain a fair jury. Since this is an important part of the trial, it is necessary that you be given an oath to answer truthfully all questions asked you about your qualifications to serve as jurors. Will you please stand, raise your right hand, and the oath will now be given to you by __________.

Notes on Use

These remarks should be changed or modified to fit the exigencies of the case. Oath may be administered by the judge, clerk, or deputy.

Oath On Voir Dire

Do you solemnly swear that you will truly and fully answer all questions asked you by the Judge and the lawyers to serve as a juror in the case now on trial, so help you God? [Juror should be required to answer "I do."].

or

Do you affirm under the pains and penalties of perjury to truly and fully answer all questions asked you by the Judge and lawyers to serve as a juror in the case now on trial? [Juror should be required to answer "I do."].

Notes on Use

If any prospective juror has conscientious scruples against taking an oath, such juror may affirm. 12 O.S.2001, § 72.

Comments

The statutes of Oklahoma do not specifically authorize an oath on voir dire, but it seems clear that there should be such an oath. The oath may be administered by the judge or the clerk. 51 O.S.2001, § 21; Milton v. State, 1912 OK CR 195, 7 Okl. Cr. 407, 418, 124 P. 81, 85.

Juvenile Instruction No. 1.4
Oath Administered To Jury

Do you solemnly swear that you will well and truly try the matter submitted to you in the case now on trial and reach a true verdict, according to the law and the evidence presented to you, so help you God? [Juror should be required to answer "I do."].

OR

Do you affirm under the pains and penalties of perjury that you will well and truly try the matters submitted to you in the case now on trial and a true verdict render, according to the law and the evidence? [Juror should be required to answer, "I do."].

Notes on Use

If any member of the jury has conscientious scruples against taking an oath, such juror may affirm. 12 O.S.2001, § 72.

Comments

This oath is taken substantially from that set forth in 12 O.S.2001, § 576. It may be a reversible error not to administer the oath to the jury. See Brink v. Territory, 1895 OK 64, 3 Okla. 588, 589, 41 P. 614, 614.

Juvenile Instruction No. 1.5
Jury's Duties—Cautionary Instructions— To Be Given After Jury Is Sworn

Members of the Jury: I will now explain to you your duties as jurors. It is vital to the administration of justice that you fully understand and faithfully perform these duties.

It is my duty to determine all of the law applicable to this case and to inform you of that law by these instructions and by the instructions that I will give you after all evidence has been received. It is your duty to accept...

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12 cases
  • In re Termination of Parental Rights
    • United States
    • Wisconsin Supreme Court
    • November 30, 2005
    ...§ 1912(f). The Introductory Note to the Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases, In re Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases, 116 P.3d 119, 163 (Okla.2005), explains its reasons for adopting the single beyond a reasonable doubt standard as follows: the prevaili......
  • In re the Termination of Parental Rights to Daniel R.S., 2005 WI 160 (Wis. 11/30/2005), 2004AP1305.
    • United States
    • Wisconsin Supreme Court
    • November 30, 2005
    ...Note to the Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases, In re Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases, 116 P.3d 119, 163 (Okla. 2005), explains its reasons for adopting the single beyond a reasonable doubt standard as follows: the prevailing practice in Oklahoma tri......
  • Mireles v. State (In re L.M.)
    • United States
    • United States State Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma. Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
    • March 30, 2012
    ...Instructions–Juvenile” approved March 28, 2005, which lists the elements of § 7006–1.1(A)(13). See In re Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases, 2005 OK 12, 116 P.3d 119, 153 (“Mental Illness or Mental Deficiency”). New jury instructions based on the 2009 amendments to § 1–4–......
  • Lane v. State (In re E.P.F.L.)
    • United States
    • United States State Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma. Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
    • September 14, 2011
    ...to result in serious emotional or physical damage to the child.” 1. The full comment is found at In re Oklahoma Uniform Jury Instructions for Juvenile Cases, 2005 OK 12, 116 P.3d 119, 163, and provides: Section 1912(f), supra, specifies a beyond a reasonable doubt standard of proof for term......
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