They have worked diligently to establish that the former president is guilty of 34 felonies by questioning 19 witnesses, including Michael D. Cohen. Cohen, Trump’s previous attorney and fixer, is currently undergoing cross-examination and is the prosecution's final witness.
After Cohen's testimony, the defense will have a chance to present their case. They can call and cross-examine witnesses to instill any reasonable doubt among the jurors. Whether Mr. Trump’s lawyers will call witnesses, including Trump himself, remains undecided. Prosecutors can then call on further witnesses to counter any testimony presented by expert defense witnesses.
Upon conclusion of the defense's presentation, both sides will give their closing arguments, highlighting key evidence and testimonies. In these summaries, lawyers aim to persuade the jurors that a crime was committed or that there's sufficient cause for doubt. In New York courts, defense lawyers present their summaries first, followed by prosecutors.
Following the closing arguments, the judge will provide jurors instructions to help them reach a verdict. This case against Trump involves 34 criminal counts, including falsifying business records to conceal a second crime, alleged to be a violation of New York’s election law. The judge's explanation of these charges will play a crucial role in the outcome of this complex case.
Once the jurors receive their instructions, they will deliberate. Judges often allow several days for deliberations and encourage jurors to aim for consensus. In the event of a deadlock, a mistrial is declared and the case could be retried. If a unanimous verdict is reached, the jury will return to the courtroom to announce whether Trump is guilty or not guilty.
