The opening statement is the first time that a jury hears about the case that they are presiding over. The opening statement is when the plaintiff and defendant tell their side of the story for the first time. The opening statement is very important because it sets the groundwork and tone for the rest of the trial. You can either get the jury’s attention, and have it captured or you can bomb the opening statement and have the jury against you for the rest of the trial. This is what makes the opening statement so important. Most attorneys think that the closing argument is the most important part of the trail but experienced trail attorneys know that the opening statement is when you impact the jury most.
