If the defense does not introduce any evidence, who gives the first closing statement?

• A. The prosecutor
• B. The jury
• C. The defendant's attorney
• D. The judge

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the order of closing arguments in a jury trial can hinge on whether the defense has introduced any new evidence. If the defense does not present any additional evidence, their closing statement is delivered first. This allows the defense to lay out its theory and highlight weaknesses in the state's case before the prosecution delivers its final argument. Since there’s no new defense evidence to rebut, the prosecutor then has the opportunity to close last and focus on the burden of proof and rebutting the defense’s points. So, in this scenario, the defendant’s attorney gives the first closing statement.