Ky. R. Crim. P. 9.56 (2026)

(1) In every case the jury shall be instructed substantially as follows: “The law presumes the defendant to be innocent of a crime, and the indictment shall not be considered as evidence or as having any weight against him or her. You shall find the defendant not guilty unless you are satisfied from the evidence alone, and beyond a reasonable doubt, that he or she is guilty. If upon the whole case you have a reasonable doubt that he or she is guilty, you shall find him or her not guilty.”

(2) The instructions should not attempt to define the term “reasonable doubt.”

Credits

HISTORY: Amended by Order 98-3, eff. 3-1-99; prior amendments eff. 7-1-78, 7-1-76; adopted eff. 1-1-63