---
title: O.C.G.A. § 9-10-186. Opening and closing arguments.
collection: code
id: 9-10-186
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 9-10-186 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-10-186
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-10-186.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/9-10-186/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t9-ch1-10-(v6)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=f3cabc45_0#page=902
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
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CIVIL PRACTICE / CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE GENERALLY / ARGUMENT AND CONDUCT OF COUNSEL
---

# O.C.G.A. § 9-10-186. Opening and closing arguments.

In civil actions, where the burden of proof rests with the plaintiff, the plaintiff is entitled to the opening and concluding arguments except that if the defendant introduces no evidence or admits a prima-facie case, the defendant shall be entitled to open and conclude. In civil actions for personal injuries, the defendant shall be deemed not to have admitted a prima-facie case if such defendant introduces any evidence as to the extent of damages, other than cross-examination of the plaintiff and witnesses called by the plaintiff.

## History

Code 1981, § 9-10-186, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 951, § 1.

## Law Reviews

For article commenting on the enactment of this Code section, see 14 Ga. L. Rev. 22 (1997).