Jury Instructions: Checklist for LexisNexis Publications

There are two sets of jury instructions for Maryland, one published by the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), the other by LexisNexis. The information below is related to research in the LexisNexis set. For information on the MSBA set, see the Checklist for that set.

LexisNexis publishes:

  • Maryland Civil Jury Instructions and Commentary, last updated 1996
  • Maryland Criminal Jury Instructions and Commentary

As the Civil Jury Instructions were last updated in 1996, this Checklist addresses only the Criminal Jury Instructions publication.

Checklist for Superseded Jury Instructions Research

Maryland Criminal Jury Instructions and Commentary (LexisNexis)
The Maryland Criminal Jury Instructions and Commentary has evolved over time. The suggested research strategies below vary based on the publication and update formats.

Pre-2009
The first edition of the Maryland Criminal Jury Instructions and Commentary was published in 1975. The second edition was published in 1988. These publications provide a single snapshot in time that corresponds to their publication year. Check the title page and/or preface of each publication for specific time coverage information.

2009 - 2013
The third edition of the Maryland Criminal Jury Instructions and Commentary was published in 2009 and updated annually in cumulative supplements through 2013.

  • Check the Library's Catalog to determine whether the Library's holdings include the supplement for the target research year.
  • Check the supplement's title page for time coverage information.
  • Review the text of the publication and the supplement together.

2014 - present
Since 2015, Maryland Criminal Jury Instructions and Commentary is published annually, in two softbound volumes.

  • Locate the volumes that correspond to your year of research.
  • Check the title page and/or preface for specific time coverage information

Example

The 2017 edition includes "statutes changes...that took effect October 1, 2016, along with statutory changes in Maryland criminal laws enacted by the Justice Reinvestment Act that primarily will take effect on October 1, 2017, and published decisions of the Maryland Court of Appeals and Court of Special Appeals through October 25, 2016." -Preface.

 

Researching superseded jury instructions is challenging and finding the desired language may not be possible. Please contact a law librarian for assistance.