As amended through August 22, 2024
Rule 22.1 - Instructions and Retirement(a)Retirement.(1)Instructions. Before the jury begins its deliberations, the court must instruct the jury on the applicable law, the procedures it must follow during deliberations, and the appropriate method to report the results of its deliberations. The instructions must be recorded or in writing, and be available to the jurors during deliberations.(2)Foreperson. The court must appoint, or instruct the jurors to elect, a foreperson.(3)Retirement. After instructing the jury, the court must direct the jury to retire under the charge of a court official to begin its deliberations.(b)Permitting the Jury to Disperse. The court may permit the jurors to disperse after they begin their deliberations. The court must instruct the jurors when to reassemble and admonish the jury under Rule 19.3.(c)Length of Jury Deliberations. The court must not require a jury to deliberate after normal working hours unless the court, after consulting with the jury and the parties, determines that evening or weekend deliberations are necessary in the interest of justice and will not impose an undue hardship on the jurors.Added August 31, 2017, effective 1/1/2018.