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A typical jury trial has several distinct phases to it.

First, there are pretrial matters which involves picking a jury and potentially other issues such as evidentiary admissiblity and whatnot. Next, the judge will preside over opening statements from each side. The side with the burden of proof goes first, so the plaintiff in a civil case and the state in a criminal case. This is just a presentation to the jury as to what that party intends to prove at trial.

Next the party with the burden presents its "case in chief," where it calls witnesses and puts on evidence aimed at proving what it needs to prove to win the case. After the party with the burden rests, the defending party has an opportunity to put on a case if it desires (it need not). After the defending party rests, the party with the burden typically has a final chance to put on any evidence or witnesses to rebut anything put forward by the defending party, but this is relatively rare and usually quick.

Then the parties give closing arguments, which is your question. Closing arguments are where each side tells a jury why that side should win. Closing arguments incorporate the evidence presented at the trial and often include statements as to that party's view of how the law should apply to what evidence came out at trial. The judge will then charge the jury, that is tell them what law to apply (this is sometimes done before closing arguments). The jury will then deliberate and return with a verdict (or possibly hang). The judge may then take up post-trial motions which argue about a supposed flaw in the case or the case may then be appealed.

This is all very, very broad brush and you should contact a lawyer immediately if you are about to try a case yourself.

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15y ago

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