Limiting Instruction
Definition
A direction given by a judge to the jury explaining the restricted purpose for which a piece of evidence may be considered. In cases involving AI-generated or deepfake media, limiting instructions may caution jurors not to treat digital images as self-authenticating proof of real events, particularly where authenticity is disputed.
- Given by
- Trial judge to the jury
- Purpose
- Restrict the use of specific evidence
- Modern relevance
- Deepfake and AI-generated media disputes
Common questions
Who decides when a limiting instruction is needed?+
The trial judge, usually on request from counsel, when evidence is admissible for one purpose but could be misused by jurors for another, improper purpose, such as inferring bad character.
Can a limiting instruction fully prevent jurors from misusing evidence?+
Not reliably. Research on jury psychology finds jurors can struggle to compartmentalize evidence as instructed, which is one reason courts weigh probative value against this residual risk before admitting it.
Related terms
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