Defense Closing Argument Analysis

Annotated Bibliography

Kavinoky, D. (2012, May 4). Defense Closing Argument. Retrieved from https://www.nocuffs.com/california-criminal-defense-attorney-defense-closing-argument/

This source is an online article that provided very useful information on the various elements involved during the process of presenting a closing argument. Although the case Kavinoky uses an example of is in a California DUI/DWI trial it was still quite helpful to me in gaining better understanding and perspective of how a closing argument is demonstrated. A few of the steps listed in this article include how the defense attorney should follow up the prosecutor’s closing argument with an even stronger one, addresses weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case, and gains the

Cochran was the defense attorney for O.J. Simpson during the famous 1995 O.J. Simpson trial. Simpson was on trial for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. I found this page of excerpts very useful because it gave me a raw narrative of a closing argument in a real murder trial. The closing argument provided is a great example of arguing to prevail. Although this source only presents excerpts of Cochran’s closing argument, it still displays how good of an understanding he had of arguments to prevail. This is one of the many things I found to be the most helpful. I believe this is what significantly assisted him in creating the most effective argument. He wanted to achieve a specific goal of proving to the jury that Simpson was an innocent man on trial for murder. This was my most helpful source while writing my closing

This article gives a thoroughly detailed explanation of both an opening statement and closing argument. In addition, it also demonstrates what the key difference between the two is. It states that during opening statements, both sides (defending and prosecuting) are prevented from stating the evidence of the case. During closing arguments, both sides are free to use and state the evidence. Although all the given information was helpful, I found this source to be the least helpful while writing my closing