§ 25-1107 Order of trial

Codes > Nebraska Revised Statutes > Chapter 25 > Article 11 : (b) Trial > 25-1107 Order

25-1107. Order of trial

    When the jury has been sworn the trial shall proceed in the following order, unless the court for special reasons otherwise directs:

    (1) The plaintiff must briefly state his claim, and may briefly state the evidence by which he expects to sustain it.

    (2) The defendant must then briefly state his defense, and may briefly state the evidence he expects to offer in support of it.

    (3) The party who would be defeated if no evidence were given on either side must first produce his evidence; the adverse party will then produce his evidence.

    (4) The parties will then be confined to rebutting evidence unless the court, for good reasons in furtherance of justice, permits them to offer evidence in their original case.

    (5) When the evidence is concluded, either party may request instructions to the jury on points of law, which shall be refused or given by the court; which instructions shall be reduced to writing if either party requires it.

    (6) The parties may then submit or argue the case to the jury. In argument, the party required first to produce his evidence shall have the opening and conclusion. If several defendants have separate defenses and appear by different counsel, the court shall arrange their relative order.

    (7) The court may again charge the jury after the argument is concluded.