Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.580

STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS

sha256 104b33d1d8779fc4d512992137c83617… · retrieved 8/16/2026, 9:15:40 PM · The Florida Bar consolidated ed. eff. 07-01-2026 (pinned Gen-Prac-Jud-Admin-Rules-07-01-26.pdf; the compilation's own ledger runs through SC2025-0725, eff. 7-1-26) · verified 8/16/2026 by gl3-furniture-identical-reload

RULE 2.580. 	STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS
(a) 	Use; Modification. The standard jury instructions
appearing on The Florida Bar’s website may be used by trial judges
in instructing the jury in every trial to the extent that the
instructions are applicable, unless the trial judge determines that
an applicable standard jury instruction is erroneous or inadequate,
in which event the judge shall modify the standard instruction or
give such other instruction as the trial judge determines to be
necessary to instruct the jury accurately and sufficiently on the
circumstances of the case. If the trial judge modifies a standard jury
instruction or gives another instruction, upon timely objection to
the instruction, the trial judge shall state on the record or in a
separate order the respect in which the judge finds the standard
instruction erroneous or inadequate or confusing and the legal
basis for varying from the standard instruction. Similarly, in all
circumstances in which the comments or notes on use
accompanying the standard jury instructions contain a
recommendation that a certain type of instruction not be given, the
trial judge may follow the recommendation unless the judge
determines that the giving of such an instruction is necessary to
instruct the jury accurately and sufficiently, in which event the
judge shall give such instruction as the judge deems appropriate
and necessary. If the trial judge does not follow such a

 

 
recommendation, upon timely objection to the instruction, the trial
judge shall state on the record or in the separate order the legal
basis of the determination that the instruction is necessary.
(b) 	Referral to Committee. The party requesting and
receiving a modified instruction shall send a copy of the modified
instruction to the appropriate committee on standard jury
instructions under rule 2.270, unless the modification is only
technical or nonsubstantive in nature, so that the committee can
consider the modification to determine whether the standard
instruction should be amended.
(c) 	No Supreme Court Approval or Presumption of
Correctness. The standard jury instructions approved for
publication and use under rule 2.270 are not approved or otherwise
specifically authorized for use by the supreme court. The approval
of a standard jury instruction under that rule shall not be
construed as an adjudicative determination on the legal correctness
of the instruction. Standard instructions authorized for use by the
supreme court prior to the adoption of rule 2.270 shall be treated
the same as and given no more deference than instructions
approved for use under that rule.

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