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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a trial court's instructions to a jury. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 23, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER D. JURY CHARGE |
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Sec. 23.251. REQUIRED JURY INSTRUCTIONS. The judge of a |
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trial court in the judge's charge to a jury shall instruct the |
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members of the jury of their duty to: |
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(1) judge the law to determine whether the law is |
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unjust or unjustly applied to a party in a case; |
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(2) determine the validity of the evidence; and |
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(3) vote on the jury verdict according to the members' |
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consciences. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a jury empaneled on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |