Approval of instructions in civil actions will be made by order of this court. The caption of the approved instructions shall state the effective date. The Missouri Bar is directed to publish such approved instructions and notes on use or committee notes as this court authorizes, together with the date upon which the use thereof shall be required.
Rule 70.01.Approval of Instructions--Effective Date--Publication Procedure.
Part I · Rule 70: Instructions · Last amended December 1, 1977 · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceRule 70.01 gives the Missouri Supreme Court authority to approve civil jury instructions by order, requires the effective date to appear on the approved instructions, and directs The Missouri Bar to publish the approved instructions along with notes on use or committee notes and the date use becomes required.
Full Text of Rule 70.01
Amendment History
Added April 7, 1977, eff. Dec. 1, 1977. Amended May 20, 1964, eff. Jan. 1, 1965; Amended Jan. 19, 1973, eff. Sept. 1, 1973.
Plain-English Summary
Rule 70.01 is the source of authority behind Missouri's approved jury instructions. Approval happens by order of the Missouri Supreme Court, and the caption of each approved instruction states the effective date, so courts and lawyers know precisely when a given instruction takes hold.
Publication is handled through The Missouri Bar, which the rule directs to publish the approved instructions along with any notes on use or committee notes the court authorizes. The publication also carries the date by which the instruction's use becomes required, giving the bench and bar advance notice before a new or revised instruction becomes mandatory in practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who approves the pattern jury instructions used in Missouri civil trials?
The Missouri Supreme Court, acting by order.
What is MAI?
Missouri Approved Instructions — the set of approved instructions this rule authorizes and Rule 70.02 requires courts to use when applicable.
Where are approved jury instructions published?
The Missouri Bar is directed to publish them, along with notes on use or committee notes.
Does an approved instruction apply to trials immediately after approval?
The caption states the effective date, and the publication states the date by which use is required, so there can be a gap between approval and mandatory use.
What are notes on use or committee notes?
Rule 70.01 refers to these as material the Missouri Supreme Court may authorize to accompany the published approved instructions.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Missouri State & Federal Court Rules, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Missouri. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as: approval of MAIMissouri approved instructions authorityeffective date of jury instructionspublishing approved jury instructionsMissouri Bar instruction notes