If you have a jury trial, your lawyer and the state attorney will pick the jury. The jury is composed of six or twelve people who live in the community where the crime was committed.

After the jury is picked, the trial will begin. Each lawyer will tell the jury what they are going to prove. The State goes first. He will tell the jury that he can prove you committed the crime with which you were charged. Your lawyer will then address the jury and tell them there is not enough evidence that you committed this crime, or he may say that you did not do it and he can prove that.

Each lawyer will present evidence and witnesses. The State attorney will begin. After he presents all the evidence and questions the witnesses, your attorney will have a chance to question the witnesses, too. He will try to make it look as if they do now know what they are talking about, so that the jury will not believe them. He will try to show the jury that you did not do it. He will present witnesses on your side and has them tell the jury what they know. After that, the State attorney will question your witnesses and try to convince the jury your witnesses are mistaken or not telling the truth.

After that, there will be final arguments to the jury. Both the State attorney and you lawyer will try to get the jury on their side.

Then, the jury will make the final decision. The judge will tell them the rules. The jury will then discuss privately the evidence and decide among themselves if you are guilty or not.

If the jury decides you are guilty, the judge will decide what your punishment or sentence will be. If the jury decides you are not guilty the judge will set you free.