Jury Instructions FAQ | Texas Family Law Powerhouse

Question 1

What are the legal standards for jury instructions in Texas criminal trials?

Accepted Answer

This question has been addressed in 4 Texas court opinion(s), including Brandon Keith Anderson v. The State of Texas. Winning a motion to strike or disregard surprise testimony is a 'trap' if the evidence is truly 'incurable.' In Texas courts, if a witness drops a 'bombshell' that poisons the well, you must move for a mistrial and secure an adverse ruling to preserve the issue for appeal. Merely asking the judge to disregard the statement is considered a 'win' at trial that results in a procedural default on appeal, leaving you with no recourse if the judge is ultimately influenced by the excluded evidence.

Question 2

When is a defendant entitled to jury instructions on lesser charges or defenses in Texas criminal trials?

Accepted Answer

This question has been addressed in 3 Texas court opinion(s), including Ford v. State. A final divorce decree is a powerful tool that immediately terminates a spouse's privacy rights in awarded property. Practitioners should draft decrees with extreme specificity—including VINs and clear divestiture clauses—to ensure that an ex-spouse cannot later claim constitutional protections to block the discovery of evidence or the enforcement of property rights.