Crafting a persuasive closing argument in a criminal trial is as much knowing what not to say as it is knowing what to say or how to say it.
[Read more…]An Example Of Inartful Closing Argument And How To Fix It: What Not To Say In Closing
People v. Garcia, 2019 IL App (2d) 161112 (March). Episode 615 (Duration 15:28)
Prosecutor used an inartful example to illustrate accountability, but this was not plain error.
Error For The Prosecution To Ask The Jury If There Heart Is Not Broken For That Women
People v. Thompson, 2016 IL App (1st) 133648 (March). Episode 164 (Duration 5:47)
Some of the State’s remarks in closing relied on questionable advocacy, but did not rise to the level of clear and obvious error. [Read more…]
Prosecution Walks A Very Fine Line In Their Closing Argument
People v. Mpulamasaka, 2016 IL App (2d) 130703 (January). Episode 127 (Duration 15:34).
Prosecution walks the line to win a conviction. Appellate court quickly reverses.
[Read more…]
Another Way Prosecutors Discuss Reasonable Doubt In Front Of The Jury
See People v. Thompson, 2015 IL App (1st) 122265 (August). Episode 094 (Duration 8:05)
Is this common prosecutorial reasonable doubt argument objectionable?