---
title: O.C.G.A. § 17-8-71. Order of argument after evidence presented.
collection: code
id: 17-8-71
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 17-8-71 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-8-71
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-8-71.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/17-8-71/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t17-(v15)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=8c04ccfe_0#page=886
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
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current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE / TRIAL / CONDUCT AND ARGUMENT OF COUNSEL
---

# O.C.G.A. § 17-8-71. Order of argument after evidence presented.

After the evidence is closed on both sides, the prosecuting attorney shall open and conclude the argument to the jury. The defendant shall be entitled to make a closing argument prior to the concluding argument of the prosecuting attorney.

## History

Ga. L. 1851-52, p. 242, § 1; Code 1868, § 4551; Code 1873, § 4645; Code 1882, § 4645; Penal Code 1895, § 1029; Penal Code 1910, § 1055; Code 1933, § 27-2201; Ga. L. 2005, p. 20, § 10/HB 170.

## Cross References

Right of district attorney to open and defendant or counsel to conclude argument in presentence hearings, § 17-10-2(a).

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 2005, p. 20, § 1/HB 170, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: ‘‘This Act shall be known and may be cited as the ‘Criminal Justice Act of 2005.’’’

Ga. L. 2005, p. 20, § 17/HB 170, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that the 2005 amendment applies to all trials which commence on or after July 1, 2005.

## Law Reviews

For annual survey article discussing developments in criminal law, see 51 Mercer L. Rev. 209 (1999). For annual survey of criminal law, see 56 Mercer L. Rev. 153 (2004).

For comment on Park v. State, 224 Ga. 467, 162 S.E.2d 359 (1968), see 20 Mercer L. Rev. 318 (1969).

## U.s. Code.

Closing arguments, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Rule 29.1.