Opening and Concluding Arguments

In all cases, civil or criminal, if no evidence is introduced by the defendant, the right to open and close the argument to the jury shall belong to him. If a question arises as to whether the plaintiff or the defendant has the final argument to the jury, the court shall decide who is so entitled, and its decision shall be final. In a criminal case, where there are multiple defendants, if any defendant introduces evidence the closing argument shall belong to the solicitor. In a civil case, where there are multiple defendants, if any defendant introduces evidence, the closing argument shall belong to the plaintiff, unless the trial judge shall order otherwise. History Note. 276 N.C. 735. Editor’s Note. After Rule 10 was adopted, “solicitor” was changed in the Constitution to “district attorney.” Compare N.C. Const. art. IV, § 18 (showing the current title as “district attorney”), with N.C. Const. of 1868, art. IV, § 16 (1962) (showing the former title as “solicitor”).