Legal Definitions - cautionary instruction

A cautionary instruction is a direction or guideline that a judge gives to a jury concerning the law of the case. It is usually given to warn the jury about certain evidence or to instruct them not to be influenced by outside factors.

For example, a judge may give a cautionary instruction to the jury to disregard certain evidence or consider it for specific purposes only. This is to ensure that the jury does not base their decision on irrelevant or prejudicial information. Another example is when a judge instructs the jury not to talk to anyone about the case while the trial is in progress. This is to prevent outside influences from affecting the jury's decision.

Cautionary instructions are important because they help ensure that the jury makes a fair and impartial decision based on the evidence presented in court.