Rule 51.Instructions to the jury; objections; preserving a claim of error

Group VI: Trials · Last amended March 1, 2017 · Last verified July 14, 2026

In one sentenceRule 51 sets deadlines and procedures for requesting jury instructions, requires the court to disclose its proposed instructions and give parties a chance to object before they are read to the jury, and requires objections to state the specific matter and grounds on the record.

Full Text of Rule 51

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(a) Requests. —

(1) Before or at the Close of the Evidence. — At the close of the evidence or at any earlier reasonable time that the court orders, a party may file and furnish to every other party written request for the jury instructions it wants the court to give.

(2) After the Close of the Evidence. — After the close of the evidence, a party may:

(A) file requests for instructions on issues that could not reasonably have been anticipated by an earlier time that the court set for requests; and

(B) with the court’s permission, file untimely requests for instructions on any issue.

(b) Instructions. — The court:

(1) must inform the parties of its proposed instructions and proposed action on the requests before instructing the jury and before final jury arguments;

(2) must give the parties an opportunity to object on the record and out of the jury’s hearing before the instructions and arguments are delivered; and

(3) may instruct the jury at any time before the jury is discharged.

(1) How to Make. — A party who objects to an instruction or the failure to give an instruction must do so on the record, stating distinctly the matter objected to and the grounds for the objection.

(2) When to Make. — An objection is timely if:

(A) a party objects at the opportunity provided under Rule 51(b)(2); or

(B) a party was not informed of an instruction or action on a request before that opportunity to object, and the party objects promptly after learning that the instruction or request will be, or has been, given or refused.

(d) Record. — The instructions to the jury, exclusive of rulings which are recorded by the court for inclusion in any record, shall be reduced to writing, numbered and delivered to the jury and shall be part of the record in the case.

End

Amendment History

Added February 2, 2017, effective March 1, 2017.

Plain-English Summary

Parties file their requested jury instructions at the close of the evidence, or by any earlier deadline the court sets. Once the evidence has closed, a party can still request instructions on issues that could not reasonably have been anticipated by that earlier deadline, and can file other untimely requests if the court allows it.

Before instructing the jury and before closing arguments, the court has to tell the parties what instructions it plans to give and how it will rule on their requests, then give them a chance to object on the record, out of the jury's hearing, before the instructions and arguments are delivered. The court can instruct the jury at any point before it is discharged. An objection has to state, on the record, exactly what instruction or omission is being objected to and the grounds for it; it counts as timely if raised at that scheduled opportunity, or promptly after a party learns that an instruction or ruling on a request will be or has been given or refused without earlier notice. The instructions themselves get reduced to writing, numbered, delivered to the jury, and made part of the case record.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need to submit proposed jury instructions?

At the close of the evidence, or by any earlier deadline the court sets for requests.

Can I still request an instruction after the evidence has closed?

Yes, for issues that could not reasonably have been anticipated by an earlier deadline, and for other untimely requests if the court gives permission.

How do I properly object to a jury instruction?

On the record, out of the jury's hearing, stating distinctly the matter you object to and the grounds for the objection.

What if I wasn't told about an instruction before my chance to object?

The objection is still timely if you raise it promptly after learning that the instruction or ruling on a request will be, or has been, given or refused.

Do the jury instructions become part of the official trial record?

Yes. They are reduced to writing, numbered, delivered to the jury, and made part of the record in the case.

Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Wyoming Rules of Civil Procedure, adopted by the Supreme Court of Wyoming. Last verified July 14, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: jury instruction request deadlineobjecting to jury instructionsproposed jury instructions rulehow to preserve jury instruction error