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Civil procedure

closing argument

In a jury trial, after the parties introduce all of their evidence and the jury charge (instructions) is read to the jury, the parties may argue the case to the jury. The party with the burden of proof on the whole case—or on all matters that are submitted by the jury charge—will generally be allowed to open and conclude the argument. And where there are several parties with separate claims or defenses, the court will determine the order in which they are allowed to argue the case to the jury.

In Ohio, during a jury trial, after all evidence has been presented and the jury instructions (charge) have been read, the parties have the opportunity to make their closing arguments. The party that carries the burden of proof, meaning the party responsible for proving the allegations or defenses presented, is typically granted the right to both open and conclude the argument. This is often the plaintiff in a civil case or the prosecution in a criminal case. When multiple parties are involved with separate claims or defenses, the order of arguments is determined by the court. The court's decision on the order of arguments takes into consideration fairness and the logical flow of the case, ensuring that the jury can follow the arguments in a coherent manner. This process is governed by the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure for civil cases and the Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure for criminal cases, as well as relevant case law and local court rules.

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Civil procedure

closing argument

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Civil procedure

closing argument

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