The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are simply that.

Opinions.

All are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.

Sensitive topics are discussed.

Discretion is advised.

So as you know, it's time for closing arguments.

And when I was a trial lawyer, I never liked it when just before closing arguments.

Just before I stood up, the judge would say, jurors, remember, closing arguments are not evidence.

But it's true.

Closing arguments are not evidence, the lawyers aren't witnesses.

And because they're not evidence, I need to put away notebooks because you can't take notes

on them. But the reason it used to bother me is because

I sensed that it made it sound like they're less important than anything else in the trial,

and they're not. It's certainly a very important part of the case. And we've all noticed that

you've paid very close attention to this case, and we know that you'll do the same to the closing argument a couple of things I want to say and

you'll hear more about this in greater detail when I give you the charge first is

you folks are the fact finders so it's what you find from the testimony your

memory of the testimony this has been a long trial but your memory of the testimony not this has been a long trial, but your memory

of the testimony, not the lawyers and not mine. So if the lawyers or I say anything that doesn't

square with your memory, it's your memory that serves. Secondly, there are very important constitutional

rights that I hope that you understand a constitutional

concepts that you need to understand first again the burden of proof in this case is proof beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty

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