ABOUT THE SITE -
This CCJA web site is about jury argument in criminal cases. Some call it final argument, closing argument or summation. Our goal is to assist prosecutors
and defenders who want to develop their skills in preparing and delivering persuasive jury arguments.
For advocates who are trying to put it all together for jury argument,
you'll notice that we regularly add new how-to-do-it information.
When every word counts ...
FEATURES
OUR PHILOSOPHY ABOUT JURY ARGUMENT ...
A trial lawyer is a professional speaker. Every advocate who tries cases has the obligation to become a better talker and communicator ... to make every word count. Some of us are not content to make the same old tired arguments time and time again. We recognize that our choice of words and linguistic style may be as important in communicating persuasively with the jurors as the message we want to deliver. Yet for those of us trying to improve our craft, it makes no sense to reinvent the wheel every time we face the task of preparing and delivering a jury argument. The suggestions and examples contained in this site are here to cheer the argumentative spirit, to awaken enthusiasm, and to stir the imagination. Those lawyers who are born to eloquence will have no need of our resources. But the rest of us, whether trying our first or fiftieth case, may find useful how-to-do-it stuff in the site. Try it out, and judge for yourself.
Ray MosesCCJAGreat is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.
This web site is maintained by CCJA as a service to the Bar. All written contents are written by Ray Moses. The pages of this web site may not be reprinted or republished in whole or in part, electronically or in print, without express written permission. However, individual users are permitted to print one copy of any page or pages for personal use.
This web site is not affiliated with or sponsored by any educational institution. This web site is is designed to provide information in regard to preparation and delivery of jury argument in criminal cases. Neither the publisher nor writer is engaged in rendering legal or professional services, and neither warrants the use of the materials in any particular case.
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Inquiries should be addressed to:
Center for Criminal Justice Advocacy, P.O. Box 22642, Houston, TX 77227-2642. Contact Us
This web site was last updated on: May 21, 2013.
The author of these materials has experience as a federal and state prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, visiting judge, special master, law professor, CLE presenter, and legal writer; he holds law degrees from the law schools of the
University of Texas, Northwestern University, and S.M.U. and was a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School and
an academic visitor at the Law School of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
THE CASEY ANTHONY
CHILD MURDER TRIAL
Jury Arguments
Verdict 7/5/2011
NOT GUILTY
-
Verdict 11/7/2011
GUILTY
FAIR USE NOTICE: Some of the video clips displayed in the sidebars of this web site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This material is displayed in an effort to advance understanding of issues of criminal justice, effective assistance of counsel, political fairness. human rights, morality, ethics, democracy, and scientific and social justice. I believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 1 07.The material on this web site is presented without profit to students and practitioners of criminal law who have an interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. The author of this web site claims no ownership in any video clip displayed herein.
Prosecution Argument in
Jodi Arias Capital Murder Case - This defendant was her own worst enemy. The AZ jury found her eligible for the death penalty.
(Prosecution Opening Argument - Instructions @ 6:03:00; argument begins @ 32:00.00)
