Art. 809 Judge to give jury written list of responsive verdicts

When a judge finishes instructing the jury in a criminal trial, the judge must hand over a written list showing all the possible verdicts the jury can choose for each charge. This list breaks down each charge separately, so if someone faces multiple charges, the jury sees the verdict options for each one on its own.

The jury takes this list with them into the deliberation room and can look at it while they discuss the case and make their decision. This helps make sure jurors know exactly what verdict options they have for each charge, instead of having to remember everything the judge said out loud during instructions.

This matters because it gives jurors a clear reference to work from. Without a written list, jurors might forget an option or get confused about which verdicts apply to which charge, especially in cases with several counts or lesser included offenses.