Legal Question in Criminal Law in Arizona

Re: defendant making closing statement

All closing statements are 'unexamined.' Whether by attorneys or defendants. A defendant always has the right to address the jury in a jury trial if he is acting as his own counsel, no matter when that situation arose. Refusing to testify is a constitutional right which cannot be abridged or commented upon, and has absolutely nothing to do with a closing statement. To refuse a defendant on trial to do what you suggest would be unfair and fundamental constitutional error warranting reversal on appeal.