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 Washington State, during a jury trial, after all evidence has been presented and the jury has been instructed on the legal standards applicable to the case (jury charge), the parties are given the opportunity to present their closing arguments. The party that carries the burden of proof, meaning the party that must prove the allegations or defenses asserted, is typically granted the right to both open and close the argument. This is because they have the responsibility to establish their case to the satisfaction of the jury. When multiple parties are involved, each with their own claims or defenses, the court will decide the sequence in which they may present their arguments. This order is determined at the discretion of the court and is designed to ensure a fair and orderly process. The rules governing these procedures are outlined in the Washington court rules and case law, which provide guidance on trial conduct and the rights of the parties during closing arguments.