Legal Definitions - summing up

Definition: Summing up refers to the closing argument made by lawyers in a court case or the review of key evidence and instructions given by a judge to the jury in English law.

Example 1: During the trial, the defense and prosecution lawyers presented their arguments and evidence. In the summing up, the judge reviewed the key points of evidence and instructed the jury on the law they should apply to the evidence before making their decision.

Example 2: In a criminal trial, the defense lawyer may make a summing up to persuade the jury that their client is not guilty. They may highlight inconsistencies in the prosecution's case or present alternative explanations for the evidence presented.

These examples illustrate how summing up is an important part of a court case. It allows lawyers to make their final arguments and for the judge to provide guidance to the jury before they make their decision.