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Civil Trial Process
1. Opening Statements

When the trial begins, opening statements are made by both sides. The plaintiff speaks first and gives an overview of the facts to be presented, which is offered to help the judge or jurors understand and follow the evidence during the trial. The opposing attorney may present the same type of opening comment or may reserve the opening statement until later in the trial when that side of the case begins. Either attorney may choose not to give an opening statement. An opening statement is not an argument, and what the attorneys say in their opening statements is not evidence.
2. Direct Examination - Calling Witnesses

The plaintiff will begin the case by calling witnesses and asking them questions. This is direct examination.

Witnesses in all trials take an oath or affirmation that what they say in court is true. Questions on direct examination and on cross-examination are asked by attorneys to arrive at the truth. The judge may also question the witnesses directly. Jurors may not question witnesses directly. Jurors may submit written questions for witnesses to the judge.
3. Direct Examination - Trial Evidence

All trial evidence, including testimony and physical evidence such as documents, weapons or articles of clothing, must be acceptable as defined by the Arizona Rules of Evidence before it can be admitted into evidence and shown to the jury. Occasionally, the attorneys for one side will object to a question asked or an exhibit offered by the other side. Under the law, attorneys are within their rights to object to the introduction of any evidence which they believe is improper. At times, the judge will hear arguments on these objections out of the hearing of the jury. The judge decides what evidence and testimony is admissible under the rules. Objections by the attorneys, or the ruling of the judge with regard to them, should not cause the jury to favor one side or the other.
4. Cross Examination

When the plaintiff has completed its questioning of a witness, the defense is allowed to cross-examine the witness on any relevant matter.
5. Redirect Examination

After cross-examination, the attorney who originally called the witness may ask additional questions of the witness to clarify something touched on in the cross-examination. This is redirect examination. The judge may allow an opportunity for the opposing attorney to recross examine.

When the plaintiff has called all the witnesses for its side of the case and presented all its evidence, that side rests its case.
6. Directed Verdict

After the plaintiff rests, the defendant’s attorney may ask the court to decide the case in the defendant’s favor because the plaintiff did not present sufficient evidence to prove the case against the defendant. This is called a directed verdict in a civil case.

If the judge agrees that there is not enough evidence to convict the defendant, the judge rules in favor of the defendant and the case ends.
7. Defense

The defense may present evidence for its side of the case. The attorney for the defense often waits until this point in the trial to make an opening statement.

If the defense does present a case and call witnesses, the same rules and procedures that governed presentation of evidence by the plaintiff now apply to evidence presented by the defense.

At the conclusion of the defendant’s case, the plaintiff may present additional information to respond to evidence offered by the defense. Following this, the defense is given another opportunity to present additional evidence on the defendant’s behalf.
8. Closing Arguments

When both sides have presented their evidence, each side may make closing arguments. Closing arguments are similar to opening statements. They provide an opportunity for the attorneys to address the judge or jury a final time. The plaintiff speaks first, usually summarizing the evidence that has been presented, and highlighting items most beneficial to the plaintiff. The attorney for the defendant speaks next. The defense attorney will usually summarize the strongest points of the defendant’s case and point out flaws in the case presented by the plaintiff. The plaintiff then has one last opportunity to speak. These arguments give the judge or jury an opportunity to better understand the case and thus help them in arriving at a verdict. What the attorneys say in their closing arguments is not evidence.
9. Instructing the Jury

After closing arguments in a jury trial, the judge reads instructions to the jurors explaining the law that applies to the case. Jury members are required to follow and apply these instructions in reaching a verdict.
10. Jury Deliberations

Bailiffs are then sworn to take charge of the jury and escort them from the courtroom to the jury deliberating room. The jury elects a foreperson to lead the discussion. Jurors must consider all the evidence, review the facts of the case, and reach a verdict based upon the law and evidence. When the jury makes its decision, the court is called back into session.
11. Verdict

In civil cases, a decision (verdict) does not have to be unanimous. The judge will instruct the jurors on the necessary number of jurors that need to agree to reach a verdict. After the verdict is reached in the jury room, and if the verdict is unanimous, the foreperson signs the verdict. If the verdict is not unanimous, the jurors agreeing with the verdict sign their names to the verdict. Then, all the jurors return to the courtroom where the verdict is received. In some cases, each juror will be asked if he or she concurs with the verdict. This is called "polling the jury." When polling the jury, the judge and clerk do not identify individual jurors by name. The court then enters a judgment based on the verdict, and the jury is released from duty.
12. Appeals

A party may appeal the judgment to the court of appeals.