Catch the Conscience! – Scripting a Winning Opening Statement

by Benjamin K. Riley

February 2017 – The opening statement is your first and perhaps best opportunity to convince the jury that your client should win. The jurors know very little about the case, are anxious to get started, and give you their full attention. Their impression of you will probably be set by the time you finish your opening. Opening is the time to establish the jurors’ expectations, start to develop a bond with them, and whet their appetite for your case.  View a pdf copy of the article.