Which of the following processes comes last in a civil trial?

In a civil trial, the entry of judgment is the final process that concludes the trial phase. This step follows all other aspects of the trial, including the presentation of evidence, closing arguments, and jury deliberation. The entry of judgment signifies the official decision made by the court, which either upholds or dismisses the claims made by the parties involved.

Prior to this, closing arguments summarize the case for the jury or judge, and jury deliberation is where the jury discusses the evidence to reach a verdict. A motion for directed verdict typically occurs during the trial before the jury deliberates, usually when one party requests that the judge rule in their favor based on the evidence presented, arguing that no reasonable jury could reach a different conclusion. Thus, the entry of judgment is distinct as the final act that formalizes the court's decision following all preceding processes in the trial.