What are the stages of a Georgia criminal defense trial?
A criminal trial in Georgia proceeds through a defined sequence of stages, each with its own function. Understanding this structure provides a framework for how a case moves from the selection of a jury to a verdict, with the prosecution carrying the burden of proof throughout.
The process begins with jury selection. Through voir dire, prospective jurors are questioned and a jury is assembled using challenges for cause and peremptory strikes. Once the jury is seated, the trial moves to opening statements, in which each side outlines what it expects the evidence to show.
The presentation of evidence follows. The prosecution presents its case first, calling witnesses and introducing evidence, with the defense able to cross-examine. Because the state bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, this phase is where that burden is tested. The defense may then present its own evidence, though it is not required to do so.
After the evidence, the trial moves to closing arguments, where each side summarizes its position. The judge then instructs the jury on the applicable law, and the jury deliberates to reach a verdict. In a criminal case, a guilty verdict generally requires the agreement of all jurors.
Each stage builds toward the jury’s decision, with the reasonable-doubt standard governing the outcome. The progression from selection through evidence to deliberation gives a Georgia criminal trial its shape, and the consistent placement of the burden on the state runs through every phase.