Can a prosecutor respond in rebuttal to defense counsel's arguments in closing?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Barrett, E055032 (Cal. App. 2013):

A prosecutor may respond in rebuttal to defense counsel's arguments even if the response might otherwise have been improper in closing. (People v. Hill (1967) 66 Cal.2d 536, 560.) Here, the prosecutor's rebuttal argument that defendant could have called more parents to testify, responded directly to defense counsel's argument that the prosecutor called only young, inexperienced parents.

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(b) Comment on expert testimony

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