The normal order of trial shall be as follows:
Art. 1632.Order of Trial
Book II. Ordinary Proceedings · Title V. Trial · Chapter 4. Trial Procedure · Amendment history unavailable · Last verified July 30, 2026
In one sentenceArticle 1632 sets the default sequence for a Louisiana civil trial, running opening statements, evidence, and closing arguments each in the order of plaintiff, defendant, and plaintiff in rebuttal, while letting the court vary that order when circumstances justify and determine the sequence for any additional parties.
Full Text of Art. 1632
(1) The opening statements by the plaintiff and the defendant, in that order;
(2) The presentation of the evidence of the plaintiff and of the defendant, in that order;
(3) The presentation of the evidence of the plaintiff in rebuttal; and
(4) The argument of the plaintiff, of the defendant, and of the plaintiff in rebuttal, in that order.
This order may be varied by the court when circumstances so justify. When an action involves parties in addition to the plaintiff and the defendant, the court shall determine the order of trial as to them and the plaintiff and the defendant.
Plain-English Summary
Article 1632 lays out a four-stage default order for trial: opening statements by the plaintiff and then the defendant; the plaintiff's evidence followed by the defendant's; the plaintiff's rebuttal evidence; and closing argument in the same plaintiff, defendant, plaintiff-in-rebuttal sequence.
That order is a starting point rather than a fixed ritual. The court can vary it when circumstances justify a different sequence.
When a case involves more than a single plaintiff and a single defendant, such as additional parties on either side or third-party demands, the default order does not answer everything. The court determines where those additional parties fit relative to the plaintiff and the defendant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard order of a Louisiana civil trial?
Opening statements, then evidence, then the plaintiff's rebuttal evidence, then closing arguments, each in the sequence of plaintiff, defendant, and plaintiff in rebuttal.
Can the judge change this default order?
Yes, Article 1632 lets the court vary the order when circumstances justify doing so.
How does the order work when there are more than two sides to the case?
The court determines the sequence for any additional parties in relation to the plaintiff and the defendant.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure (legis.la.gov). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: order of trial louisiana civil caseopening statement closing argument order louisianala code civil procedure article 1632trial sequence louisiana civil procedureplaintiff rebuttal evidence order