Jury Instructions in Arizona — What's the Big Deal?

You may have noticed in our blog posts that we frequently cite the “Revised Arizona Jury Instructions (Civil)” — commonly known as RAJIs. Why? Because they’re simple, authoritative statements of current Arizona law that judges are required to use when instructing juries.

What Are RAJIs?

RAJIs are standardized jury instructions developed by the State Bar of Arizona’s Civil Jury Instructions Committee. They cover virtually every area of civil law — negligence, damages, comparative fault, defamation, products liability, and more.

When a case goes to trial, the judge reads these instructions to the jury. They tell the jurors exactly what the law requires — what elements must be proven, what standard of proof applies, and how to evaluate damages.

Why They Matter

RAJIs matter because they define the playing field. When we tell you that negligence requires proving duty, breach, causation, and damages — that’s straight from the RAJIs. When we explain that pain and suffering includes physical discomfort, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life — that’s the RAJI language.

Understanding the jury instructions tells you exactly what your case needs to prove. It’s the blueprint for building your case from day one.

How We Use Them

At Law Badgers, we prepare every case with the jury instructions in mind from the start. Every piece of evidence we gather, every expert we hire, every argument we make is designed to satisfy the elements laid out in the RAJIs. When you build your case around the instructions the jury will receive, the verdict follows logically.

That’s what separates trial lawyers from settlement mills — we know what a jury needs to hear because we’ve stood in front of juries and made those arguments.