Trial
Once all twelve jurors and any alternates have been
selected, the jury is sworn and is considered empanelled.
If there are no pretrial motions, the trial begins. The trial
begins with opening statements by the prosecutor and
defense counsel, if defense counsel chooses to give an
opening statement. After the opening statements are
complete, both sides present their evidence to the jury,
with the State presenting its case first. When both sides
have finished presenting their evidence, each side
presents closing arguments to the jury. After closing
arguments are finished, the judge charges the jury as to
the applicable law. The jury then deliberates and
eventually returns a verdict of guilty or not guilty. In
order to return a guilty verdict, the jury must be
unanimous.
