(a) Requested Instructions—Objections. At the close of the evidence or at such earlier time as the court reasonably directs, any party may file written requests that the court give the jury specific instructions. The court shall inform counsel of the final form of jury instructions prior to their arguments to the jury. Following the close of the evidence, before or after the arguments of counsel, the court shall instruct the jury. Additionally, the court may give the jury such instructions as it deems necessary at any stage of the trial. No party may assign as error the giving or the failure to give an instruction unless the party objects thereto before the jury retires to consider its verdict, stating distinctly the matter to which the party objects and the grounds of the objection. Opportunity must be given to make the objection out of the hearing of the jury, by excusing the jury or hearing objections in chambers.
Rule 51.Instructions to Jury.
Last amended October 15, 2001 · Last verified July 6, 2026
In one sentenceRule 51 sets the procedure for requesting and objecting to jury instructions, and requires the court to tell jurors they alone judge the facts while it alone supplies the law.
Full Text of Rule 51
(b) Instructions to Be Given. The court shall instruct the jury that they are the exclusive judges of all questions of fact and of the effect and value of evidence presented in the action. The court shall instruct the jury on all matters of law that it considers necessary for their information in giving their verdict.
Amendment History
(Adopted by SCO 5 October 9, 1959; amended by SCO 49 effective January 1, 1963; by SCO 79 effective February 1, 1966; by SCO 920 effective January 15, 1989; by SCO 1153 effective July 15, 1994; and by SCO 1436 effective October 15, 2001)
Plain-English Summary
Any party may submit written requests for specific jury instructions by the close of the evidence or whatever earlier deadline the court sets, and the court tells counsel the final form of the instructions before closing arguments begin. The court instructs the jury after the evidence closes, whether before or after the lawyers argue, and can also give instructions at any other point in the trial it thinks necessary. A party can't challenge on appeal the giving or omission of an instruction unless it objected before the jury retired to deliberate, clearly stating what it's objecting to and why, and the court has to let that objection happen outside the jury's hearing, whether by excusing the jury or moving to chambers.
The court tells the jury that it alone judges every question of fact and weighs the evidence, while the court supplies whatever instructions on the law the jury needs to reach its verdict.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request a specific jury instruction in an Alaska trial?
File a written request by the close of the evidence, or by whatever earlier deadline the court sets; the court tells counsel the final instructions before closing arguments.
Can I appeal a jury instruction I didn't object to at trial?
No — you have to object before the jury retires to deliberate, clearly stating what you're objecting to and why, or the issue isn't preserved.
Who decides questions of fact at an Alaska jury trial?
The jury alone; the court's role is to instruct on the law the jury needs to reach its verdict.
Source & verification. The rule text, Amendment History, and Notes are reproduced verbatim from the
official Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure (Alaska R. Civ. P. 51). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Alaska (Alaska Const. art. IV, § 15). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 6, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: jury instructions Alaska civil caseobjecting to jury instruction Alaska rulerequesting jury instructions AlaskaAlaska R. Civ. P. 51