I Believe, The Golden Rule, Send a Message, and Other Improper Closing Arguments

Abstract

INTRODUCTION|Closing argument provides counsel with an opportunity to put the entire case together for the jury in a mosaic tapestry of facts, inferences, and law. The jury has patiently endured voir dire, openings, directs, crosses, redirects, the admission of exhibits, and the tedious instructions by the judge. The jury wants, expects, hopes that counsel's closings will make their responsibilities easier by explaining how it all fits coherently together so that the jurors can confidently decide the issues presented to them without having to go through the controversy, confusion, and conflict depicted in the movie Twelve Angry Men...