Instructions

In the Law of Agency. Orders given by a principal to his agent in relation to the business of his agency. The agent is bound to obey the instructions he has received, and when he neglects so to do he is responsible for the consequences, unless he is justified by matter of necessity.

4 Bin. (Pa.) 361; 1 Livermore, Ag.. 368.

See "Agent." — ^

In English Practice

The statements of a cause of action, given by a client to his attorney, and whicb, where such is the practice, are sent to his pleader to put into legal form of a declaration.

Warren, Law Stud. 284.

Instructions to counsel are their indemnity for any aspersions they may make on the opposite party; but attorneys who have a just regard to their own reputatioil will be cautious, even under instructions, not to make any unnecessary attack upon a party or witness. For such unjustifiable conduct the counsel will be held responsible.

Eunom. Dial. 2, § 43, p. 132. For a form of instructions, see 3 Chit. Prac. 117, 120, note.

In American Practice. The charge or directions as to the law, given by the court to the jury. In French Law. The means used and formality employed to prepare a case for trial. It is generally applied to criminal cases, and is then called "criminal instruction." It is then defined as the acts and proceedings which tend to prove positively a crime or delict, in order to inflict on the guilty person the punishment which he deserves.