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Fundamentals
of a Jury Trial
- Jury selection
- Prosecutor gives an opening statement to outline
the case and evidence to the jury;
- Defense may give a similar opening statement,
or wait until later in the trial;
- Prosecutor calls witnesses, which the defense
may cross examine;
- Prosecutor rests;
- Defense may call witnesses, if it wants, and
the prosecutor may cross-examine them;
- Defense rests;
- Prosecutor may present "rebuttal"
witnesses/evidence to challenge evidence presented by the defendant;
- Prosecutor rests;
- Prosecutor presents a closing argument to
the jury;
- Defense presents a closing argument to the
jury;
- Prosecutor may present a rebuttal argument
to the jury to respond to the defense closing argument;
- The judge gives the jury detailed legal instructions
about the charged crimes, the deliberation process, etc.;
- Jury deliberates and returns a verdict.
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