ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam

What do closing arguments allow attorneys to do?

1. Question witnesses

2. Summarize their case

3. Set the bail terms

4. Conduct voir dire

The correct answer is: Summarize their case

Closing arguments are a critical phase in a trial where attorneys have the opportunity to summarize their case and present the key points they want the jury to remember. This part of the trial allows lawyers to consolidate the evidence and testimonies presented during the trial, highlighting how they support their position on the case. Essentially, closing arguments serve to reinforce their narrative and persuade the jurors to arrive at a conclusion favorable to their side. While questioning witnesses is part of the trial's earlier phases during direct and cross-examination, setting bail terms is a matter handled separately, typically in pre-trial proceedings. Conducting voir dire involves the process of selecting jurors, which occurs before the trial begins and not during closing arguments. Thus, the focus of closing arguments is specifically on summarization rather than these other activities.