Johnson mostly stayed upstairs in his bedroom and his housekeeper would bring him meals up there. She saw signs of a break-in and called the police. They just assumed that whoever robbed Mr. Johnson also killed him. Johnson was killed by anyone. Yes, Philip said he strangled Mr. You see, Stephanie drove Philip to Mr.
She thought he was going to talk about a case. She waited in the car the whole time. Nonetheless, the police threatened to charge her with murder, so Philip said that he strangled Mr. Identify and understand what content belongs in your opening statement. Before you start writing your opening statement, you want to brainstorm what type of information should be included and what should be left out.
An opening statement is an opportunity for you to discuss the facts of your case while generally avoiding arguments and the application of law to facts. Your opening statement can most likely have a brief introduction to the legal issues on which your case depends.
Identify and understand your audience and what your tone should be. When you deliver your opening statement at trial, your audience is going to be the jurors.
In order to write the best possible opening statement, you will want to know as much about your jurors as possible. Understand the educational and cultural diversity of your jurors, as well as any likes or dislikes they may have hinted at during prior proceedings.
You will want to craft your opening argument to make it easily accessible to your jurors without making it oversimplified or rude. Part 2. Write your introductory remarks. One week later, on January 30, she was carried out of the back door dead. What happened in that short week to turn a routine operation into a life and death struggle, and why it never should have happened, is what this case is all about. Introduce your actors, places, and things. You should also familiarize the jury with important locations and times that are going to play a big role in the trial.
Identify your disputes. Tell your story. Your focus should be on who did what to whom, what their reasons were for doing it, and what the consequences were.
Discuss your weaknesses. The car was in good condition, and Jim was alert, sober and not at all tired. He had drunk two beers with his dinner, but was still in full control of his faculties. He would not have driven if he had been feeling any effects from the beer. Provide a conclusion. He killed Boyd for revenge - an eye for an eye - because he blamed Boyd for the death of his daughter. The people of this state will therefore ask you at the close of the evidence to find him guilty of murder. Part 3.
Prepare your speech for the day of the trial. You should strive to deliver your opening statement from memorization. Doing so will make your opening statement more genuine, believable, and effective. Practice your opening statement in front of an audience or in front of a mirror. An opening statement will set the tone for the entire trial and give the judge a lens not just to understand the evidence, but to understand what it means in the context of your theory of the case. Be clear, concise and memorable.
Open your case with a bang, not a whimper and do it in just three minutes. To be successful, a lawyer must have insight into the whole human catastrophe and be able to effectively traverse the legal system. It is the intersection of these two disciplines that fascinate me. I have been a lifelong student of both human nature and the law, and have created this blog to help others following my path.
Be the first to get notified of new posts and insider tips. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Trial Practice. The Structure of an Effective Opening Statement With that in mind, how do you structure an effective opening statement? The Three Minute Opening 1. After you have heard all the evidence, we would ask that you find the defendant guilty as charged on all counts. Thank you. Take Advantage of Our Online Resources.
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