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Can a pro se defendant make statements of fact in his opening and closing arguments?
Can a judge put me under oath for closing statements?
If a defendant in a criminal case testifies on the stand, then they must submit to cross examination, which is not good for them.
However, if a defendant is conducting his case pro se, then can he make statements of fact during opening and closing arguments and thereby avoid cross examination of those facts or statements. Will a judge try to prevent this?
For example, imagine a defendant is charged with vehicular manslaughter for running over a pedestrian. The defendant conducts his own defense and in his closing arguments says, "The man ran in front of my car, there was no way to stop in time" and this fact has not been introduced to the case previously. Will the judge in such a case try to stop the defendant from making such a statement in his closing argument?
criminal-law pro-se
asked Aug 12 '18 at 4:20
CiceroCicero
2,4921125
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
If a defendant in a criminal case testifies on the stand, then they must submit to cross examination, which is not good for them.
However, if a defendant is conducting his case pro se, then can he make statements of fact during opening and closing arguments and thereby avoid cross examination of those facts or statements. Will a judge try to prevent this?
For example, imagine a defendant is charged with vehicular manslaughter for running over a pedestrian. The defendant conducts his own defense and in his closing arguments says, "The man ran in front of my car, there was no way to stop in time" and this fact has not been introduced to the case previously. Will the judge in such a case try to stop the defendant from making such a statement in his closing argument?
criminal-law pro-se
asked Aug 12 '18 at 4:20
CiceroCicero
2,4921125
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
If a defendant in a criminal case testifies on the stand, then they must submit to cross examination, which is not good for them.
However, if a defendant is conducting his case pro se, then can he make statements of fact during opening and closing arguments and thereby avoid cross examination of those facts or statements. Will a judge try to prevent this?
For example, imagine a defendant is charged with vehicular manslaughter for running over a pedestrian. The defendant conducts his own defense and in his closing arguments says, "The man ran in front of my car, there was no way to stop in time" and this fact has not been introduced to the case previously. Will the judge in such a case try to stop the defendant from making such a statement in his closing argument?
criminal-law pro-se
asked Aug 12 '18 at 4:20
CiceroCicero
2,4921125
If a defendant in a criminal case testifies on the stand, then they must submit to cross examination, which is not good for them.
However, if a defendant is conducting his case pro se, then can he make statements of fact during opening and closing arguments and thereby avoid cross examination of those facts or statements. Will a judge try to prevent this?
For example, imagine a defendant is charged with vehicular manslaughter for running over a pedestrian. The defendant conducts his own defense and in his closing arguments says, "The man ran in front of my car, there was no way to stop in time" and this fact has not been introduced to the case previously. Will the judge in such a case try to stop the defendant from making such a statement in his closing argument?
criminal-law pro-se
criminal-law pro-se
asked Aug 12 '18 at 4:20
CiceroCicero
2,4921125
asked Aug 12 '18 at 4:20
CiceroCicero
2,4921125
asked Aug 12 '18 at 4:20
CiceroCicero
2,4921125
asked Aug 12 '18 at 4:20
CiceroCicero
2,4921125
asked Aug 12 '18 at 4:20
CiceroCicero
2,4921125
2,4921125
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
bumped to the homepage by Community♦ 9 hours ago
This question has answers that may be good or bad; the system has marked it active so that they can be reviewed.
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
My understanding is that you can make statements of fact as a pro se defendant, but the judge can choose to ignore those statements; however, the judge cannot use those statements against a pro se defendant as inculpatory evidence or admissions of guilt.
answered Jan 11 at 12:59
Brent FestgeBrent Festge
1
The question is mostly about jury trials. In other words , I want to know if the judge will try to interfere with a pro se defendant making statements of fact to a jury during opening and closing arguments.
– Cicero
Jan 11 at 13:32
I don't know if the judge would actually instruct the jury to ignore statements of fact from opening statements, but a normal jury won't take anything you say in your opening as a proven fact. They will expect you to prove or establish reasonable doubt in cross examination. Also whether the man ran in front of your car or not may not be a defense depending on the text of the law used against you.
– pboss3010
Jan 11 at 15:23
add a comment |
The general rule is that in the opening statement, the lawyer may describe what he expects the evidence and testimony to show:
We will present Mr Smith, who will tell you that he saw the defendant miles away at the time of the crime
But cannot make statements of fact as such. I don't see why this rule would be different for a pro se defendant.
answered Feb 10 at 14:36
David SiegelDavid Siegel
12.7k2348
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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active
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My understanding is that you can make statements of fact as a pro se defendant, but the judge can choose to ignore those statements; however, the judge cannot use those statements against a pro se defendant as inculpatory evidence or admissions of guilt.
answered Jan 11 at 12:59
Brent FestgeBrent Festge
1
The question is mostly about jury trials. In other words , I want to know if the judge will try to interfere with a pro se defendant making statements of fact to a jury during opening and closing arguments.
– Cicero
Jan 11 at 13:32
I don't know if the judge would actually instruct the jury to ignore statements of fact from opening statements, but a normal jury won't take anything you say in your opening as a proven fact. They will expect you to prove or establish reasonable doubt in cross examination. Also whether the man ran in front of your car or not may not be a defense depending on the text of the law used against you.
– pboss3010
Jan 11 at 15:23
add a comment |
My understanding is that you can make statements of fact as a pro se defendant, but the judge can choose to ignore those statements; however, the judge cannot use those statements against a pro se defendant as inculpatory evidence or admissions of guilt.
answered Jan 11 at 12:59
Brent FestgeBrent Festge
1
The question is mostly about jury trials. In other words , I want to know if the judge will try to interfere with a pro se defendant making statements of fact to a jury during opening and closing arguments.
– Cicero
Jan 11 at 13:32
I don't know if the judge would actually instruct the jury to ignore statements of fact from opening statements, but a normal jury won't take anything you say in your opening as a proven fact. They will expect you to prove or establish reasonable doubt in cross examination. Also whether the man ran in front of your car or not may not be a defense depending on the text of the law used against you.
– pboss3010
Jan 11 at 15:23
add a comment |
My understanding is that you can make statements of fact as a pro se defendant, but the judge can choose to ignore those statements; however, the judge cannot use those statements against a pro se defendant as inculpatory evidence or admissions of guilt.
answered Jan 11 at 12:59
Brent FestgeBrent Festge
1
My understanding is that you can make statements of fact as a pro se defendant, but the judge can choose to ignore those statements; however, the judge cannot use those statements against a pro se defendant as inculpatory evidence or admissions of guilt.
answered Jan 11 at 12:59
Brent FestgeBrent Festge
1
answered Jan 11 at 12:59
Brent FestgeBrent Festge
1
answered Jan 11 at 12:59
Brent FestgeBrent Festge
1
answered Jan 11 at 12:59
Brent FestgeBrent Festge
1
1
The question is mostly about jury trials. In other words , I want to know if the judge will try to interfere with a pro se defendant making statements of fact to a jury during opening and closing arguments.
– Cicero
Jan 11 at 13:32
I don't know if the judge would actually instruct the jury to ignore statements of fact from opening statements, but a normal jury won't take anything you say in your opening as a proven fact. They will expect you to prove or establish reasonable doubt in cross examination. Also whether the man ran in front of your car or not may not be a defense depending on the text of the law used against you.
– pboss3010
Jan 11 at 15:23
add a comment |
The question is mostly about jury trials. In other words , I want to know if the judge will try to interfere with a pro se defendant making statements of fact to a jury during opening and closing arguments.
– Cicero
Jan 11 at 13:32
I don't know if the judge would actually instruct the jury to ignore statements of fact from opening statements, but a normal jury won't take anything you say in your opening as a proven fact. They will expect you to prove or establish reasonable doubt in cross examination. Also whether the man ran in front of your car or not may not be a defense depending on the text of the law used against you.
– pboss3010
Jan 11 at 15:23
The question is mostly about jury trials. In other words , I want to know if the judge will try to interfere with a pro se defendant making statements of fact to a jury during opening and closing arguments.
– Cicero
Jan 11 at 13:32
The question is mostly about jury trials. In other words , I want to know if the judge will try to interfere with a pro se defendant making statements of fact to a jury during opening and closing arguments.
– Cicero
Jan 11 at 13:32
I don't know if the judge would actually instruct the jury to ignore statements of fact from opening statements, but a normal jury won't take anything you say in your opening as a proven fact. They will expect you to prove or establish reasonable doubt in cross examination. Also whether the man ran in front of your car or not may not be a defense depending on the text of the law used against you.
– pboss3010
Jan 11 at 15:23
I don't know if the judge would actually instruct the jury to ignore statements of fact from opening statements, but a normal jury won't take anything you say in your opening as a proven fact. They will expect you to prove or establish reasonable doubt in cross examination. Also whether the man ran in front of your car or not may not be a defense depending on the text of the law used against you.
– pboss3010
Jan 11 at 15:23
add a comment |
The general rule is that in the opening statement, the lawyer may describe what he expects the evidence and testimony to show:
We will present Mr Smith, who will tell you that he saw the defendant miles away at the time of the crime
But cannot make statements of fact as such. I don't see why this rule would be different for a pro se defendant.
answered Feb 10 at 14:36
David SiegelDavid Siegel
12.7k2348
add a comment |
The general rule is that in the opening statement, the lawyer may describe what he expects the evidence and testimony to show:
We will present Mr Smith, who will tell you that he saw the defendant miles away at the time of the crime
But cannot make statements of fact as such. I don't see why this rule would be different for a pro se defendant.
answered Feb 10 at 14:36
David SiegelDavid Siegel
12.7k2348
add a comment |
The general rule is that in the opening statement, the lawyer may describe what he expects the evidence and testimony to show:
We will present Mr Smith, who will tell you that he saw the defendant miles away at the time of the crime
But cannot make statements of fact as such. I don't see why this rule would be different for a pro se defendant.
answered Feb 10 at 14:36
David SiegelDavid Siegel
12.7k2348
The general rule is that in the opening statement, the lawyer may describe what he expects the evidence and testimony to show:
We will present Mr Smith, who will tell you that he saw the defendant miles away at the time of the crime
But cannot make statements of fact as such. I don't see why this rule would be different for a pro se defendant.
answered Feb 10 at 14:36
David SiegelDavid Siegel
12.7k2348
answered Feb 10 at 14:36
David SiegelDavid Siegel
12.7k2348
answered Feb 10 at 14:36
David SiegelDavid Siegel
12.7k2348
answered Feb 10 at 14:36
David SiegelDavid Siegel
12.7k2348
12.7k2348
add a comment |
add a comment |
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