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OPENING STATEMENT



OPENING STATEMENT

  • INTRODUCE THE ENTIRE TEAM BEFORE BEGINNING. TEACH YOUR TEAM TO STAND AND REMAIN STANDING AS EACH TEAM MEMBER PRESENTS HIMSELF OR HERSELF. FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER!
  • PLAINTIFF/PROSECUTION PRESENTS THEIR OPENING  FIRST. DEFENSE PRESENTS OPENING SECOND OR AFTER THE PLAINTIFF/PROSECUTION RESTS.
  • THE OPENING IS CRITICAL. IT SETS A TONE FOR YOUR TEAM. YOU WANT TO CHOOSE ONE OF YOUR STRONGEST TEAM MEMBERS. SOMEONE WITH COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE. I MAKE THIS PERSON THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE TEAM WHEN ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ARISE.  
  • GOAL IS TO MAP OUT YOUR CASE IN A STORY
  • TELL A STORY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE
        • DO NOT ARGUE!
        • EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED IN A STORY FORM IN A WAY THAT IS EASY TO FOLLOW AND INTERESTING 
        • USE FUTURE TENSE. "THE EVIDENCE WILL SHOW..."
        • USE STRONG POWERFUL LANGUAGE. "WE WILL PROVE...." VS. "WE WILL TRY TO...."
        • TELL WHAT WITNESSES AND EVIDENCE YOU WILL USE TO PROVE YOUR STORY.
        • STATE THAT YOU WILL MEET YOUR BURDEN OF PROOF IF YOU ARE THE PLAINTIFF/PROSECUTION.
        • IF YOU ARE THE DEFENSE, MAKE A BIG ISSUE THAT AN INDICTMENT OR ACCUSATION DOES NOT MEAN A PERSON IS GUILTY. 
        • IN A CRIMINAL CASE, THE DEFENDANT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.
        • DEFENSE SHOULD MAKE A BIG ISSUE ABOUT THE BIG BURDEN THE PROSECUTION HAS IN A CRIMINAL CASE.
        • IN A CIVIL CASE, THE DEFENSE SHOULD REMIND THE COURT THAT THE PLAINTIFF HAS THE BURDEN OF PROOF AND MUST TIP THE SCALES OF JUSTICE IN THEIR FAVOR. 

 

 

                                                                                     

WHAT MAKES AN OPENING STATEMENT GOOD?

KEY IDEAS

GOOD STORY

GIVE THE JUDGE/JURY A ROADMAP

LOGICAL ORDER

EYE CONTACT

MEMORIZED

   AUTHENTIC   

REMEMBER

PAINT A PICTURE FOR THE JUDGES

KEEP IT SIMPLE

DO NOT OVERSTATE YOUR CASE

CLIPS FROM JUDGE MEMORIAL

Introduction/Opening Statements Examples

LINKS

www.uark.edu/ 

www.abanet.org/

SAMPLE ATTACHED BELOW

SAMPLE IS A PAST ROUGH DRAFT

YOUTUBE VIDEO OF OPENINGS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEeVDI6yz3I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWVLhf_PQps&feature=related



Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.
Eddie Rickenbacker





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Dianna Pugh,
Jan 14, 2011 8:01 PM
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Dianna Pugh,
Jan 14, 2011 8:01 PM