Reconstructing Jury Instructions in Homicide Offenses: Rethinking Homicide Law

Reconstructing Jury Instructions in Homicide Offenses offers critical analysis for jury instructions in the United States. Supported by court decisions, careful interpretation of the United States Constitution, and jurist's arguments, Hisham M. Ramadan thoroughly examines the mental elements in crime, the burden of proof in criminal trials, and the doctrine of reasonableness. In addition, the concepts of the knowledge element in the offense, the presumption of innocence and the reasonableness doctrine are re-examined as never before. Every issue discussed begins with a description of the historical and theoretical foundation of the concept and ends with a practical proposal for jury instruction reform. An in-depth analysis of fundamental legal issues, Reconstructing Jury Instructions translates highly theoretical work into a practical proposal for law reform.