What is included in the charge to the jury?

The charge to the jury primarily consists of the instructions from the judge concerning governing law. This includes the legal standards that the jury must apply when deliberating on the case, detailing how the law pertains to the specific facts they are tasked with evaluating. This instruction ensures that jurors understand the legal framework and guidelines they must follow, which is crucial for their deliberation on reaching a fair and informed verdict.

The other aspects mentioned, such as verdict options or evidence evaluation criteria, may be relevant to the jury's considerations, but they are not the core components of the jury charge. Additionally, opening statements are not part of the jury charge; rather, they are statements made at the beginning of the trial to outline the case to the jury before the evidence is presented. Thus, the instructions from the judge stand as the fundamental part of the charge, providing structure and clarity to the jury's decision-making process.