Comments sought:

The Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions has approved and posted for public comment the latest cycle of proposed revisions and additions to the criminal jury instructions (CALCRIM). The committee is very interested in your input.

The proposed changes are at this link: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/calcrim-2019-01.pdf  ­­­­­­­Only these proposed changes and additions are being submitted for comment at this time. We will gladly accept other comments, but the committee will not be able to consider them until the next release cycle. 

Our preferred way of receiving your comments is in a Word file attached to an e-mail sent to kara.portnow@jud.ca.gov. However, you may also respond online.  And we have also posted a comment form that you may use to comment on individual instruction or groups of instructions. Please do NOT comment by Reply All to this e-mail.

Comments by letter should be sent to:

Ms. Kara Portnow, Attorney

Judicial Council of California

Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions

455 Golden Gate Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94102

The deadline for receiving comments is Friday, July 5, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.

The committee will review all comments and make recommendations to the Judicial Council's Rules and Projects Committee and then to the full council. Comments received will become part of the public record of the council's action.

When submitting comments, please:

• Indicate whether you agree with the proposal, would agree with the proposal if it is modified, or do not agree with the proposal.
• Clearly identify the specific language in the instruction that you are commenting on.
• Suggest alternative language, if appropriate.
• Provide any applicable authority for your position.

We encourage your comments and critique because they help us refine both the particular instructions and the more global choices about format and approach.  We appreciate your participation in this effort.

On behalf of the Advisory Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions

Hon. Peter J. Siggins, Chair