Closing arguments

• Pages: 375-434
• Author: Jonathan Dichter

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

7-1

CHAPTER 7

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

§7:01 Goals—Reasonable Doubt in All Cases

§7:01.1 Innovation: The Closing Isn’t Done until AI Reads It

§7:02 Neutralizing Prosecutor’s Closing: Solutions to Not Having the Last Word

§7:03 Capturing the Jurors’ Hearts and Minds

§7:04 Developing Your Own Voice

§7:05 Handling the Defense Stigma

II. TYPES OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS

§7:10 Basic Categories of Closings

A. The Story Closing

§7:20 Effective Storytelling

§7:21 Example: Bloodshot Eyes

§7:22 Chronological Order Is Best

§7:23 Tell Story in “Here and Now”

§7:24 Emphasize Theme

§7:25 The Moral

B. The Rules Closing

§7:30 What Is a “Rules” Closing?

§7:31 Rules Closing Must Be Accurate

§7:32 Use Outline, Rather Than Chronological Organization

§7:33 Repeat “Reasonable Doubt”

§7:34 Tailor Trial Examination to Closing

§7:35 Use Charts

§7:36 Use Demonstrations

§7:37 Combine With Story Close

C. The “I Cannot Believe This Piece of Junk Made It This Far” Closing

§7:50 When to Use

§7:51 How It Works

§7:52 Two Cautions

§7:53 Sample Closing Argument

III. ANALOGIES, ANECDOTES, AND STORIES

§7:60 Introduction

§7:61 Witness Testimony

§7:62 Minor Problems

§7:63 Acceptable Machine Errors

§7:64 Machine versus People

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

Innovative DUI Trial Tools 7-2

§7:65 Rising Alcohol

§7:66 Circumstantial Evidence

§7:67 The Note Pad

§7:68 The Tripod

§7:69 The Reveal: No Observed Driving Case

§7:70 Three Verdicts: The Hung Jury

§7:71 Lack of Rebuttal

§7:72 Urine Testing: Hawaiian Punch Demonstration

§7:73 Keep it Fair

§7:74 The Flight Attendant Analogy

§7:75 Lack of Observation Period Covered by Technology

§7:76 Thermometer Analogy

§7:77 Averages

IV. BURDENS OF PROOF

A. The Staircase

§7:80 Introduction

§7:81 Reasonable Suspicion

§7:82 Probable Cause

§7:83 Preponderance

§7:84 Clear and Convincing

§7:85 Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

§7:86 Prosecution’s Rebuttal

B. Closing Argument Aids

§7:90 Burden of Proof Building Blocks

§7:91 Degrees of Guilt

V. COMPLETE CLOSINGS

§7:100 The Interrogator (Refusal Cases)

§7:101 The Inspector (Breath Test Cases)

§7:102 Disconnect Cases (High BAC)

§7:103 Circumstantial Evidence Case (No Test or Other Guy Drove)

§7:104 GERD

VI. CONSTRUCTING A POWER POINT CLOSING ARGUMENT

§7:110 Introduction

§7:110.1 Innovation: Building a Smarter Closing Presentation

§7:111 The Evidence

§7:112 Essential Points to Be Made on Cross-Examination

§7:113 The Presentation

§7:114 Slides for Combining the “Baby Stepping” Portion of the

Officer’s Cross Examination with Burden of Proof Arguments

§7:115 Closing Slideshow for State v. John R.

DIGITAL ACCESS

Fig 7-01 Levels of Proof

Fig 7-02 Burden of Proof Building Blocks 1

Fig 7-03 Burden of Proof Building Blocks 2

Fig 7-04 Burden of Proof Building Blocks 3

Fig 7-05 Burden of Proof Building Blocks 4

Fig 7-06 Burden of Proof Building Blocks 5

Fig 7-07 Burden of Proof Building Blocks 6

Fig 7-08 Burden of Proof Building Blocks 7

Fig 7-09 Burden of Proof Building Blocks 8

CLOSING ARGUMENTS

7-3 Closing Arguments

Fig 7-10 Burden of Proof Building Blocks 9

Fig 7-11 Degrees of Guilt 1

Fig 7-12 Degrees of Guilt 2

Fig 7-13 Disconnect Defense Chart

Fig 7-14 Doctor and Mrs Smith’s Son

Fig 7-15 Doctor’s Diagnosis

Fig 7-16 How Doc Reached Decision

Fig 7-17 Best Tools

Fig 7-18 Educated Guesses

Fig 7-19 More Likely Than Not

Fig 7-20 Possible

Fig 7-21 Equal Opposite Possibility

Fig 7-22 Supposed

Fig 7-23 Assumptions

Fig 7-24 Average

Fig 7-25 Second Opinion

Fig 7-26 Do We Operate

Fig 7-27 Trooper’s First Impression #1

Fig 7-28 Trooper’s First Impression #2

Fig 7-29 Trooper’s First Impression #3

Fig 7-30 Exiting the Car

Fig 7-31 Walking from the Car

Fig 7-32 Client’s Arrest

Fig 7-33 Why Find Client Not Guilty

7-115 Closing Slideshow for State v. John R.