Legal Definitions - curative instruction

A curative instruction is a direction given by a judge to a jury to correct an erroneous instruction. It is intended to fix any mistakes made during the trial and ensure that the jury has the correct information to make their decision.

For example, if the judge accidentally gave the jury incorrect information about the law, they may give a curative instruction to correct the mistake and make sure the jury understands the correct law.

Another example of a curative instruction is when the judge tells the jury to disregard certain evidence or consider it for specific purposes only. This is called a cautionary instruction and is meant to prevent the evidence from unfairly influencing the jury's decision.

Overall, curative instructions are important in ensuring a fair trial and a just verdict.