The opening statement previews evidence and orients jurors to the issues before testimony begins.

Evidence

Opening Statements Before any evidence is presented, the attorney for the party that initiated the litigation—the prosecution in criminal cases or the plaintiff in civil cases—presents an opening statement. This statement previews the prosecution’s case, identifying the issues and describing the evidence that the prosecutor intends to offer. This narrative thus serves as a road map for jurors throughout the trial. The defense usually follows with its own opening statement, raising questions about the prosecution’s evidence and promising contradictory evidence. On occasion, a defense attorney may postpone giving an opening statement until after the presentation of the prosecution’s case. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1373

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Trial preparation treats jurors as an audience to be persuaded through staged presentation — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 850; Prejudice awareness makes jurors evaluate evidence more thoroughly — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law: A Definitive Look at…, 871; A trial ascertains facts, applies law, and determines guilt or liability. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 796 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Prejudice awareness makes jurors evaluate evidence more thoroughly #expands (0.85) — Joseph Avery, Jim Sidanius, Joel Cooper, Gregory Davis, Amanda N., Bias in the Law, 871
• Pretrial conferences let judges shape cases before trial #expands (0.80) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1090
• Setting a firm trial date pushes litigants toward settlement and forces evidentiary preparation #expands (0.80) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2157
• A trial ascertains facts, applies law, and determines guilt or liability. #expands (0.70) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 796
• Juries can be influenced by the number of allegations presented. #expands (0.70) — Lynley Hood, A City Possessed, 2583
• Nervous, inexperienced expert witnesses read as more honest to juries #expands (0.70) — , Harr Jonathan - A Civil Action, 1414
• Jurors form shared impressions in idle recess chatter long before deliberating #expands (0.70) — , Harr Jonathan - A Civil Action, 2332