Press Release: 3/31/2026
Supreme Judicial Court Announces Release of Revised Model Jury Instructions on Homicide
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
3/30/2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Jennifer Donahue and Erika Gully-Santiago
Phone
Call Jennifer Donahue and Erika Gully-Santiago at (617) 557 - 1114
Online
Email Jennifer Donahue and Erika Gully-Santiago at PublicInfo@sjc.state.ma.us
BOSTON, MA — The Supreme Judicial Court today announced the release of revised Model Jury Instructions on Homicide. The Justices first approved and recommended the use of Model Jury Instructions on Homicide in 1999. The instructions have been revised on two prior occasions, in 2013 and 2018. The 2026 revisions reflect new developments in the law since 2018.
Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Frank Gaziano chaired the Standing Committee on the Model Jury Instructions on Homicide, which was charged with updating the instructions.
"Given the complexity of our homicide law, it is always a challenging task to compile clear, concise, and accurate instructions," Justice Gaziano said. "I am grateful to the members of the Committee who dedicated their time and expertise to the 2026 update, as well as to those who submitted thoughtful comments on the draft revisions that were published for comment."
The Supreme Judicial Court issued a statement approving and recommending the use of the revised instructions, along with a list summarizing the principal revisions reflected in the 2026 version.
The Supreme Judicial Court recommends that judges provide jurors with a written copy of the judge's final instructions, if available, or with an audio recording, or both. A chalk entitled Requirements of Proof for Homicide is included as an appendix to the Model Jury Instructions. The Supreme Judicial Court states that the judge may wish to provide the chalk to jurors to use as an outline to the judge's final instructions.
The members of the Committee will continue to review changes in the law, to monitor the efficacy of the instructions in providing guidance to jurors, and to recommend further revisions as needed or warranted.
Comments on these Model Jury Instructions may be sent to timothy.maguire@jud.state.ma.us, and will be considered in future revisions.
In addition to Justice Gaziano, the following justices served as members of the Committee:
Hon. Joseph M. Ditkoff, Appeals Court
Hon. Michael P. Doolin, Superior Court
Hon. Marguerite T. Grant, Appeals Court
Hon. Patrick M. Haggan, Superior Court
Hon. Catherine H. Ham, Superior Court
Hon. Kathleen McCarthy-Neyman, Superior Court
Hon. Jane E. Mulqueen, Superior Court
Hon. Raffi N. Yessayan, Superior Court