ostrich instruction

English

Etymology

After the supposed habit of the ostrich of burying its head in the sand to avoid danger by not seeing it.

Noun

ostrich instruction (plural ostrich instructions)

1. (law) An instruction to jurors telling them they may equate willful ignorance with actual knowledge.
   • 1999, U.S. v. Craig, 178 F.3d 891 (7th Cir. 1999):

     Based on this evidence, we concluded an ostrich instruction was appropriate because a jury could reasonably conclude that he had deliberately avoided the truth.