A courtroom speech is a lawyer’s closing argument to persuade the judge or jury to rule in favor of their client. It summarizes evidence presented during the trial, may use exhibits and appeal to emotion. It differs from an opening statement and should have a strong opening, outline, and conclusion. Lawyers rehearse to keep it interesting and may inject humor.
A speech in court usually refers to a lawyer’s closing argument or summation of evidence in the case. He or she will use a courtroom speech to persuade the judge or jury to rule in favor of his client. The summary could be short and precise, or the speech in the classroom could be quite long. Sometimes a judge will limit the amount of time for each party to present closing arguments.
The courtroom speech represents one last opportunity for attorneys to summarize the evidence presented during the trial. They often use exhibits during summation to remind the judge or jury of key points revealed in witness testimony. Some attorneys appeal to emotion and use rhetoric during this stage of the trial.
The final speech in the courtroom differs from an opening statement offered by attorneys on each side of a case. Opening statements typically outline what the case is about and what evidence will be presented. They are typically less persuasive and subject to court rules that keep lawyers on track. For example, attorneys usually have to refrain from arguing during the opening statement. They usually hold the subject until the final speech in the classroom.
Legal experts say a speech in court should include a strong opening, an outline of what the argument will cover, and a conclusion. The opening commonly starts with something to get attention. An attorney might tell a story or use a quote or anecdote to ensure that the rapt attention is focused on him or her.
During the middle part of the summation, lawyers usually point out weaknesses in the opponent’s argument. They may try to anticipate what the other party will cover in the summation of rebuttals in jurisdictions where this is permitted. Lawyers typically debate the relevant law to strengthen their argument during this part of the speech, appealing to the logic of a jury.
A summation usually concludes with an appeal for a verdict that supports the attorney’s argument. It could repeat the main theme of the speech and conclude on a strong note. Some jurists believe that the beginning and the end of a courtroom speech are the two most important parts of the argument.
Lawyers usually rehearse their summaries many times before addressing the judge or jury. They aim to keep the talk interesting while using a conversational tone. Lawyers usually try to cover all aspects of the case without creating boredom and distraction. Some lawyers inject a little humor into the summary if the judge or jury seems bored.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
