The following stages of a trial usually occur in jury cases:

1. Selection of a jury and juror's oath

2. The opening statement of the lawyers

3. The plaintiff or the Commonwealth calls witnesses and produces evidence to prove his or her case

4. The defendant may call witnesses and produce evidence to disprove the plaintiff's case and to prove the defendant's claims

5. Arguments are made by the lawyers on each side

6. The Judge will instruct the jury as to the law of the case. Jurors must follow these instructions of law given to them by the Judge in each particular case

7. The jury then retires to the jury deliberation room to arrive at a verdict