The Closing Addresses of Counsel - National Judicial Institute

Note: Specimen jury instructions serve as a template that trial judges must adapt to the particular circumstances of each trial, not simply read out in whole. They are not designed to be delivered "as-is." More information about the use of specimen instructions is found in the Preface and A Note to Users, which you can find here.

4.8 The Closing Addresses of Counsel

(Last revised March 2011)

[1] When all the evidence has been presented, the Crown and defence will address you. They will tell you their positions and refer to some of the evidence that they say you should rely on to reach the conclusion they suggest.

[2] They may also refer to some rules of law to help you understand their positions better. But it is for me, as the trial judge, to tell you what rules of law apply and what they mean. You must follow my instructions on the law. If there is a difference between what I say and what counsel say about the law, you must follow my instructions.