Mich. Admin. Ord. Administrative Order No. 1977-1
Proposed GCR and DCR 516.8, which would direct the use of the Standard Criminal Jury Instructions under certain conditions, were published in the State Bar Journal in April, 1976, for comment by the bench and bar. Comments have been received from proponents and opponents of the concept of pattern instructions. The intelligent concerns expressed by both sides have caused the Court to conclude that it would be provident to observe and evaluate actual trial use of the instructions over a substantial period before making the decision regarding implementation of use of the instructions by court rule.
Accordingly all members of the bench and bar are urged to use the instructions. Such use, particularly in the manner proposed in the rules published in the April 1976 Bar Journal, would provide a basis for communicating to the Court advantages or disadvantages encountered in their use. Comments based on such use are invited immediately, and on a continuing basis. It is the intention of the Court to readdress the question of implementation of the Standard Criminal Jury Instructions by court rule after approximately one year's experience has been obtained.
Mich. Admin. Ord. Administrative Order No. 1977-1