There are steps before and after the trial, but I’m focusing on the steps during the trial. The criminal trial process can be quite lengthy and costly. In fact, the longest criminal and most expensive trial in US history spanned seven years and cost around $15 million (McMartin preschool trial of 1980). During those seven years (and the present) there were multiple stages. The stages during a trial are; opening statements, presenting evidence, closing arguments, jury instructions, and jury deliberation. Starting with opening statements, the defense counsel and prosecutors have a one sided conversation with the jury before each side presents their evidence. Prosecutors make their statements first and then they are followed by the defense.
