The criminal trial is a formal process that is governed by the rules of criminal law, procedure, and evidence. Each jurisdiction in the United States has its own criminal trial procedure. However, criminal trials generally follow a similar process—one that is reflective of the adversarial nature of the court system, in which the defendant is confronted by and faces the state as the opposing authoritative body. Unlike what is portrayed on many television shows such as Law and Order and How to Get Away with Murder—whereby an attorney intentionally puts his or her client on the stand knowing full well that the client may lie, or whereby witnesses are asked leading and prejudicial questions and outbursts of victims or angered loved ones fill the courtroom—the ...

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