Madison, Wis. – In a criminal trial, as any fan of TV cop-and-court shows knows, the prosecution states its case first and the defense goes second. The accused can appear in deep trouble, at first blush, but the weight of evidence submitted by the defense often carries the day.
Not only does that make for appealing television drama, but it’s pretty much how the legal system works in real life. Those who file the charges speak first, the accused then get a chance to rebut.