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Texas Pattern Jury Charges Committees

To prepare and periodically revise pattern jury charges for common law and statutory claims encountered in consumer, insurance, business, commercial, and employment litigation. The committee shall consist of a balance of judges, plaintiffs, and defense lawyers with demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice under review by this committee. Meets six times a year

Pattern Jury Charges Committees:

Department Contact

Texas Bar Books
(512) 427-1411
books@texasbar.com
texasbarbooks.net


Pattern Jury Charges – Business, Consumer, Insurance & Employment Committee

Created in 1985

Purpose

To prepare and periodically revise pattern jury charges for common law and statutory claims encountered in consumer, insurance, business, commercial, and employment litigation. The committee shall consist of a balance of judges, plaintiffs, and defense lawyers with demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice under review by this committee. Meets six times a year.

2024-2025 Projects and Objectives

  • The committee will begin this year prioritizing any outstanding revisions and updates needed to complete the 2024 edition, to be published this year.

  • The committee will focus its efforts on studying issues and beginning to develop materials for the 2026 edition.

  • The committee intends to consider whether updates are needed on materials covering construction contracts, damages, privacy torts, and employment.

  • The committee also intends to collaborate with the other civil drafting volumes on updates addressing judicial notice and broad form.

  • The committee will work with the PJC Oversight committee as needed for review and approval of materials.

Staff Contact
Elma Garcia
Publications Attorney
(512) 427-1858

Chair
Georgina Benavides

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Pattern Jury Charges – Criminal Committee

Created in 2005

Purpose

To monitor statutory and case law developments in criminal law and prepare supplementation as needed for Pattern Jury Charges - Criminal. The committee shall consist of a balance of judges and practitioners with demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice under review by this committee. Meets quarterly.

2024-2025 Projects and Objectives

  • The Criminal Pattern Jury Charge Online Committee will continue to update and revise as well as add additional practice notes and jury instructions to the online product in order to provide greater resources to criminal law practitioners.

Staff Contact
Nicholas Goddard
(512) 427-1488

Chair
John Messinger

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Pattern Jury Charges – Family and Probate Committee

Created in 1987

Purpose

To monitor statutory and case law developments in family and probate law and prepare supplementation as needed for Pattern Jury Charges - Family and Probate. The committee shall consist of a balance of judges and practitioners with demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice under review by this committee. Meets six times a year.

2024-2025 Projects and Objectives

  • This year the PJC Family and Probate Committee will continue to work on its 2026 edition. The Family Subcommittee is considering new PJCs, a new charge for civil contempt of court, and new charges for breaches of privacy in divorces as well as considering revising Characterization Issues in Separate Property.

  • The Probate Subcommittee also plans to revise the commentary about burdens of proof in will contests. Possible new materials under consideration are charges for guardianships of adults, fraudulent securing of document execution, and actions in beneficiary and survivorship designations.

Staff Contact
Elizabeth Floreani
(512) 427-1474

Chair
Anna McKim

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Pattern Jury Charges – General Negligence, Intentional Personal Torts & Workers’ Compensation Committee

Created in 1984

Purpose

To monitor statutory and case law developments in the subject matter of this PJC volume and prepare supplementation as needed. The committee shall consist of a balance of judges, plaintiffs', and defense lawyers with demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice under review by this committee. Meets six times a year

2024-2025 Projects and Objectives

  • Add final touches to 2024 publication.

  • Add caveat to charge involving broad-form submission after Horton ruling for 2024 publication.

  • Begin working on substantive updates for 2026 edition regarding this.

  • Work on joint-volume effort to add admonitory instruction involving Judicially Noticed Facts.

  • Begin work on comment under PJC 28.8 citing support for the instruction that the jury must be unanimous in its decision on the amount of punitive damages.

  • Working with other PJC volumes regarding Improper Use and Implicit Bias.

  • Review PJC 29.7 to conform with updates to statutory language in CPRC.

  • Review PJC 11.6 and 11.7 regarding consistent language involving “injury” and “occurrence”.

  • Continue work on CLE presentation on Recent Changes to PJC GN.

  • Continue researching possible updates involving Medical and Lifecare Expenses, as well as New and Independent Cause.

  • Begin other legislative and case law updates for 2026 publication.

Staff Contact
Derek Smith
(512) 427-1832

Chair
Henry Moore

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Pattern Jury Charges – Malpractice, Premises & Products Committee

Created in 1987

Purpose

To monitor statutory and case law developments in the subject matter of this PJC volume and prepare supplementation as needed. The committee shall consist of a balance of judges, plaintiffs, and defense lawyers with demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice under review by the committee. Meets six times a year.

2024-2025 Projects and Objectives

  • Add final touches to 2024 publication.

  • Add caveat to charge involving broad-form submission after Horton ruling for 2024 publication.

  • Begin working on substantive updates for 2026 edition regarding this.

  • Review language in 72.2 & 85.5 regarding murder regarding consistent formatting.

  • Begin process to make substantial edits to chapters 70 and 71.

  • Update Eastland Citations.

  • Review licensee question under the owner knowing about an unreasonable dangerous condition.

  • Work on adding admonitory instruction involving Judicially Noticed Facts.

  • Begin other legislative and case law updates for 2026 publication.

Staff Contact
Derek Smith
(512) 427-1832

Chair
Laura Sharp

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Pattern Jury Charges – Oil and Gas Committee

Created in 2013

Purpose

To monitor statutory and case law developments in the subject matter for this PJC volume and prepare supplementation as needed. The committee shall consist of a balance of judges, and practitioners with demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice under review by the committee. Meets six times a year.

2024-2025 Projects and Objectives

  • The PJC Oil and Gas Committee has scheduled five meetings for this Bar year to complete updates to be included in the 2024 edition and commence work on the 2026 edition. For the next edition, the committee will continue to review, update, and add questions to the volume in its continuing quest to assist the oil and gas litigator in properly submitting to the jury a case that arises in the oil and gas context. This includes:

  • Exploring the addition of an instruction related to dominion statutes in the adverse possession chapter, finalizing a new instruction on the presumed grant doctrine, and updating instructions related to damages for breach of implied covenant to develop

  • Adding commentary and instructions addressing intentional trespass and nuisance in the improper use of real property chapter and ensuring consistency with OJC General Negligence

  • Working cross-volume on new charges for the admonitory chapter, including judicial notice, and continuing to address broad-form issues arising out of the Casteel doctrine

Staff Contact
Cole Cable
(512) 427-1480

Chair
Paul Simpson

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Pattern Jury Charges – Oversight Committee

Created in 2003

Purpose

To set appropriate policies and standards, to act as an oversight and coordinating committee for the PJC committees, and to concern itself with the study and formulation of the form of charges submitted for publication through the Books and Systems Department. The membership of the PJC - Oversight Committee shall consist of two ex-officio members of the Texas Supreme Court as designated by the Supreme Court, a balance of district and appellate court judges, and a balance of lawyers with demonstrated expertise in the various areas of practice, including plaintiffs and defense lawyers, and general member appointments. Meets six times a year.

2024-2025 Projects and Objectives

  • The PJC Oversight Committee has scheduled four meetings for this Bar year.

  • The Oversight Committee will work with the civil PJC committees as they begin to develop new materials and updates for the 2026 volumes and will facilitate cross-volume subcommittees as needed when updates impact more than one volume.

  • The Committee will also continue to work with the PJC Criminal volume to review its new material and updates, which are published online throughout the year.

Staff Contact
Elma Garcia
(512) 427-1858

Chair
LaDawn Nandrasy

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