Rule RCr 9.54 - Instructions(1) It shall be the duty of the court to instruct the jury in writing on the law of the case, which instructions shall be read to the jury prior to the closing summations of counsel. These requirements may not be waived except by agreement of both the defense and the prosecution. (2) No party may assign as error the giving or the failure to give an instruction unless the party's position has been fairly and adequately presented to the trial judge by an offered instruction or by motion, or unless the party makes objection before the court instructs the jury, stating specifically the matter to which the party objects and the ground or grounds of the objection. (3) The instructions shall not make any reference to a defendant's failure to testify unless so requested by the defendant, in which event the court shall give an instruction to the effect that a defendant is not compelled to testify and that the jury shall not draw any inference of guilt from the defendant's election not to testify and shall not allow it to prejudice the defendant in any way. Amended by Order 98-3, eff. 3/1/1999; prior amendments eff. 9/1/1993 (Order 93-1), 1/1/1985, 9/1/1981 (Order 81-5), 3/1/1974, 10/1/1968; adopted eff. 1/1/1963