bare bones principle (Kentucky) · Go Syfert
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bare bones principle in Kentucky

9 Kentucky opinions name it 1 courts 2011–2025 1 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Kentucky courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (7)

CaseFollowedCited
Rogers v. Kasdangreen
ky · 1981 · cited in 4 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2017–2017
2 sentences

2017Id. at 136.

2017Id. at 136.

44
Harp v. Commonwealthgreen
ky · 2008 · cited in 3 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2014–2020
2 sentences

2020See, e.g., Harp v. Commonwealth, 266 S.W.3d 813, 819 (Ky. 2008). “[J]ury instructions should tell the jury what it must believe from the evidence in order to resolve each dispositive factual issue while still ‘providing enough information to a jury to make it aware of the respective legal duties of the parties.’” Id. (quoting Olfice, Inc. v. Wilkey, 173 S.W.3d 226, 229 (Ky. 2005)).

2019The Court remains committed to the bare bones principle, “confident that it works well in most cases to ‘pare down unfamiliar and often complicated issues in a manner that jurors, who are often not familiar with legal principles, can understand.’” Harp, 266 S.W.3d at 819 .

23
Olfice, Inc. v. Wilkeygreen
ky · 2005 · cited in 2 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2014–2020
2 sentences

2020See, e.g., Harp v. Commonwealth, 266 S.W.3d 813, 819 (Ky. 2008). “[J]ury instructions should tell the jury what it must believe from the evidence in order to resolve each dispositive factual issue while still ‘providing enough information to a jury to make it aware of the respective legal duties of the parties.’” Id. (quoting Olfice, Inc. v. Wilkey, 173 S.W.3d 226, 229 (Ky. 2005)).

2014See, e.g., Harp v. Commonwealth, 266 S.W.3d 813, 819 (Ky.2008). “[J]ury instructions should tell the jury what it must believe from the evidence in order to resolve each disposi-tive factual issue while still ‘providing enough information to a jury to make it aware of the respective legal duties of the parties.’ ” Id. (quoting Olfice, Inc. v. Wilkey, 173 S.W.3d 226, 229 (Ky.2005)).

22
Wright v. Commonwealthgreen
ky · 2012 · cited in 1 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025In 32 the context of criminal jury instructions, a proper bare bones instruction “conform[s] to the language of the statute.” Wright v. Commonwealth, 391 S.W.3d 743, 746 (Ky. 2012) (quoting Parks v. Commonwealth, 192 S.W.3d 318, 326 (Ky. 2006)). “[T]he ‘bare bones’ of the jury instruction can [then] be ‘fleshed out by counsel in their closing arguments if they so desire.’” Sutton, 627 S.W.3d at 851 (Ky. 2021) (quoting Cox v. Cooper, 510 S.W.2d 530, 535 (Ky. 1974)).

11
Parks v. Commonwealthgreen
ky · 2006 · cited in 1 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025In 32 the context of criminal jury instructions, a proper bare bones instruction “conform[s] to the language of the statute.” Wright v. Commonwealth, 391 S.W.3d 743, 746 (Ky. 2012) (quoting Parks v. Commonwealth, 192 S.W.3d 318, 326 (Ky. 2006)). “[T]he ‘bare bones’ of the jury instruction can [then] be ‘fleshed out by counsel in their closing arguments if they so desire.’” Sutton, 627 S.W.3d at 851 (Ky. 2021) (quoting Cox v. Cooper, 510 S.W.2d 530, 535 (Ky. 1974)).

11
Cox v. Coopergreen
kyctapphigh · 1974 · cited in 1 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025In 32 the context of criminal jury instructions, a proper bare bones instruction “conform[s] to the language of the statute.” Wright v. Commonwealth, 391 S.W.3d 743, 746 (Ky. 2012) (quoting Parks v. Commonwealth, 192 S.W.3d 318, 326 (Ky. 2006)). “[T]he ‘bare bones’ of the jury instruction can [then] be ‘fleshed out by counsel in their closing arguments if they so desire.’” Sutton, 627 S.W.3d at 851 (Ky. 2021) (quoting Cox v. Cooper, 510 S.W.2d 530, 535 (Ky. 1974)).

11
Moore v. Damrongreen
kyctapp · 1914 · cited in 1 Kentucky opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025See Moore v. Damron, 164 S.W. 103, 104 (Ky. 1914). 5 The jury convicted Dunkleberger as described above, and we now consider the merits.

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Kentucky. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (1)

CaseCitedYears
Rodgers v. Commonwealth green
ky · 2009
1 sentence

2011Rodgers v. Commonwealth, 285 S.W.3d 740 (Ky.2009), was this Court’s first opportunity to address the 2006 amendments to the self-defense provisions of KRS Chapter 503.

12011–2011

Statutes the citing opinions construe

KY § Ky. Rev. Stat. § 411.182 (4) KY § Ky. Rev. Stat. § 413.140 (4) USC § 11u.s.c.524 (4)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

KY 9 (2011–2025) MA 3 (1998–2026) CA 2 (1987–2024)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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