as an attorney what is the first thing you do during a trial

by Terrill McLaughlin 7 min read

At trial, one of the first things a prosecutor and defense attorney must do is the selection of jurors for the case. Jurors are selected to listen to the facts of the case and to determine if the defendant committed the crime.

At trial, one of the first things a prosecutor and defense attorney must do is the selection of jurors for the case. Jurors are selected to listen to the facts of the case and to determine if the defendant committed the crime.

Full Answer

What happens during a typical criminal trial?

A brilliant litigator once told this writer what it means to be close to the actual trial of a case. “It’s what it’s all about. It’s the catharsis and the justification for all of our years of planning and preparation. It is the highest point of euphoria, the greatest amount of stress, the most amount of work and the scariest part of every lawyer’s career.

What makes a good trial lawyer?

Apr 22, 2015 · When you are called to testify, you will first be sworn in. When you take the oath, stand up straight, pay attention to the clerk, and say “I do” clearly. Tell the Truth. Most important of all, you are sworn to TELL THE TRUTH. Tell it. Every true fact should be readily admitted.

What are the basic tasks a lawyer must perform during preparation?

Mar 14, 2016 · It noted that although this was the first time it had considered the sleepy-lawyer question, four other circuits have done so and all agreed prejudice must be presumed “when counsel sleeps either through a ‘substantial portion'” of trial “or at a critical time during trial.” That is, dozing off during closing argument or something ...

How long does it take to prepare a case before trial?

1. Have I talked to my attorney? If you have not yet talked to an attorney representing your interests, this is probably the first thing you should do before accepting a plea bargain. A criminal attorney will be familiar with the legal process and can determine whether the offer you are receiving is a good one.

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What is the first thing that happens in a trial?

Once the trial begins, both the prosecution and defense will give opening statements in court. The statements provide an outline of what the case is about and what each side is trying to prove. Since the burden of proof is on the state, the prosecution presents their case and all of their evidence first.

What are the steps to a trial?

The 10 Stages Of A Criminal Trial In CaliforniaStage #1: Filing Motions With The Court.Stage #2: Jury Selection.Stage #3: Opening Statement.Stage #4:Prosecution Presents Its Case.Stage #5: Defense's Case.Stage #6: Prosecution Rebuttal (If Necessary)Stage #7: Closing Arguments.Stage #8: Jury Deliberation.More items...

What are the 7 steps of a trial?

Investigation.Charging.Initial Hearing/Arraignment.Discovery.Plea Bargaining.Preliminary Hearing.Pre-Trial Motions.Trial.More items...

What kinds of things do attorneys do to prepare for a trial?

by Mark A. RomancePrepare a “to do” list. Make a list of tasks to be done before trial. ... Visit the courtroom. ... Read everything. ... Develop your theme. ... Prepare your jury instructions. ... Prepare witness outlines, not questions. ... Anticipate evidentiary issues. ... Use of effective demonstrative aids.More items...•Feb 5, 2018

What are the 8 steps in a trial?

The 8 Steps of Criminal ProceedingsStep 1: Arrest. An arrest is the initial stage in the criminal process in which an individual accused of a crime is taken into custody. ... Step 2: Charges. ... Step 3: Arraignment. ... Step 4: Pretrial Proceedings. ... Step 5: Trial. ... Step 6: Verdict. ... Step 7: Sentencing. ... Step 8: Appeal.Feb 18, 2016

What are the 14 steps of a trial?

Terms in this set (14)step 1: pre-trial proceedings. ... step 2: jury is selected. ... step 3: opening statement by plaintiff or prosecution. ... step 4: opening statement by defense. ... step 5: direct examination by plaintiff/ prosecution. ... step 6: cross examination by defense. ... step 7: motions to dismiss or ask for a directed verdict.More items...

How do you win a trial?

Tips for Success in the CourtroomMeet Your Deadlines. ... Choose a Judge or Jury Trial. ... Learn the Elements of Your Case. ... Make Sure Your Evidence Is Admissible. ... Prepare a Trial Notebook.Learn the Ropes.Watch Some Trials. ... Be Respectful.More items...

What should I expect at a trial?

The trial is a structured process where the facts of a case are presented to a jury, and they decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the charge offered. During trial, the prosecutor uses witnesses and evidence to prove to the jury that the defendant committed the crime(s).

What are the 12 steps of a trial?

12 Steps Of A Trial Flashcards PreviewOpening statement made by the prosecutor or plaintiff. ... Opening statement made by the defendant. ... Direct examination by plaintiff or prosecutor. ... Cross examination by defense. ... Motions. ... Direct examination by defense. ... Cross examination by prosecutor or plaintiff.More items...

How do I prepare for my first trial?

Preparing for Your First TrialAlways Understand the Charges. The judge will know about the charges and the opposing attorney will too. ... Analyze Your Case. You will need to understand what you need to prove or disprove to win the case. ... Prepare Documents and Evidence. ... Prepare Your Witnesses.Oct 6, 2020

How do witnesses prepare for trials?

Tips for TestifyingSPEAK IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Don't try to memorize what you are going to say. ... SPEAK CLEARLY. ... APPEARANCE IS IMPORTANT. ... DO NOT DISCUSS THE CASE. ... BE A RESPONSIBLE WITNESS. ... BEING SWORN IN AS A WITNESS. ... TELL THE TRUTH.Feb 5, 2020

What is the preparation time for trial?

In general, expect an hour of preparation for each ten minutes of actual testimony. A typical preparation will require four or five hours of practicing direct examination and an equal amount of time playacting cross examination. Helping prepare other witnesses and cross examination.

Opening Statements

  • Opening statements allow the prosecutor and the defense attorney to briefly tell their account of the events. These statements usually are short like an outline and do not involve witnesses or evidence. The prosecutor makes an opening statement first because the Government has the b…
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Presentment of Cases

  • Witness Examination Following opening statements, the prosecutor begins direct examination of his first witness. This is the prosecutor’s initial step in attempting to prove the case, and it can last from a few minutes to several days. During direct examination, the prosecutor can introduce evidence such as a weapon or something from the crime scene. Following the prosecutor’s exa…
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Jury Instructions

  • Following the closing arguments, the judge “charges the jury,” or informs them of the appropriate law and of what they must do to reach a verdict.
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Jury Deliberations & Announcement of The Verdict

  • After being charged, the jury goes into deliberation, the process of deciding whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty. During this process, no one associated with the trial can contact the jury without the judges and lawyers. If the jury has a question on the law, they must write a note to the judge, which the judge will read in court with all parties present. In federal criminal trials, the jury …
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Pretrial Motions

  • During pretrial motions, the judge will decide whether certain evidence may be legally used at trial. At this time, a criminal defense attorneywill raise constitutional objections such as illegal searches or coerced confessions. Both sides may also argue that proposed evidence is either unnecessarily inflammatory or that it is irrelevant to the case. Pretrial motions determine the out…
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Jury Selection

  • Most trials are in front of a jury, and the jury pool initially includes dozens or even hundreds of potential jurors. During jury selection, both sides and the judge have the opportunity to present questions to potential jurors to determine whether they have any biases that might influence their decision making. The sides are often able to present their questions in a way that is designed to …
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Opening Statements

  • Opening statements are an opportunity for the lawyers to explain what they think the evidence in a case will show. They do not contain evidence, but are instead a lawyer’s chance to clearly explain their side’s version of the facts of the case. The prosecution is required to make an opening statement that covers how it will prove each element of the crime. The defense is not required t…
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The Prosecution’S Case

  • The prosecution has the burden of proof and therefore has the first opportunity to present evidence. Most evidence will be introduced by witness testimony. The prosecution will call a witness and question them in what is known as direct examination. The defense will then have the opportunity to cross examine the witness to point out inconsistencies or weaknesses in their tes…
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Motion For Judgment of Acquittal

  • When the prosecution rests, the defense always moves for a judgment of acquittal. In making the motion, the defense argues that even if all of the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, the prosecution still hasn’t presented legally sufficient proof for the jury to be able to legally find the defendant guilty. This motion is rarely granted, but can help lay the groun…
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The Defense’S Case

  • The defense may then present a case in a manner similar to the prosecution. The defense is never required to put on any evidence, and often will not, but will instead rely on the fact that they don’t believe the prosecution has met the burden of proof. The defendant will also have the opportunity to testify on his own behalf during the defense’s case. The decision to testify is the defendant’s …
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Rebuttal

  • If the defense does put on evidence, the prosecution will have the opportunity to present additional evidence after the defense rests. This evidence must contradict evidence presented during the defense’s case. For example, the prosecution might call a witness to testify that an alibi witness was lying when they said they were with the defendant at the time of the alleged crime. …
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Summations

  • Summations are also called closing arguments because both sides have the opportunity to argue to the jury why it should find in their favor. The lawyers will summarize all of the evidence presented in the case and why it supports their theory. They will also show why evidence that harms their theory shouldn’t be believed. As with all other parts of a case, the prosecution must …
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Jury Deliberations

  • When closing arguments are completed, the defense will once again make a motion for a judgment of acquittal. This will usually be quickly denied and the case will be given to the jury. The jury will go back into the jury room with all of the evidence and discuss the case among themselves. Deliberations continue until the jury comes to unanimous agreement on a verdict fo…
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Verdict

  • If a jury does reach a verdict, they will return to the courtroom and the verdict will be read. If the defendant is found not guilty of all charges, they will be free to go and any bail money will be returned. If the defendant is found guilty of one or more charges, a sentencing date will be set. Depending on the severity of the crime they were convicted of and the potential sentence, the de…
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