Opening statement mock trial

Last, but not least, do request a specific verdict. End the opening statement by asking the jury to find in favor of your side. Don't try to make specific arguments in your opening statement. Avoid bringing up legal principles or making arguments about how the law may apply to the facts of the case. Don't mention any testimony or evidence that you cannot successfully back up during the trial. Don't bog the jury down with too many details.

Avoid exaggerations, overstatements and repetition of facts that are not in dispute. Finally, avoid pacing or walking in circles while you deliver your opening statement because this tends to distract the jury.

Kristina Barroso earned a B. She teaches middle school English to a wide range of students from struggling readers to advanced and gifted populations. In her spare time, she loves writing articles about education for TheClassroom. Be short and to the point.

Being long-winded will lose the jury's attention and possibly irritate some members. To help them out, break down the key decisions they need to make when processing all this information. Finish off your opening statement by declaring what you want the verdict to be—guilty on all charges, guilty on some charges, or innocent—and how you sincerely believe the jurors will find the evidence supports this verdict.

These will help you both in the writing process, as well as in your opening statement presentation itself. Create a narrative that touches on all the main points from a birds-eye view without getting caught up in specific details. The opening statement is not the time to make arguments or bring up specific laws.

Memorize it. As a juror, which would you find more convincing? Someone who is sweating, stuttering, and reading their opening statement from a piece of paper? Or someone who looks you in the eye, smiles, uses appropriate gestures, and confidently delivers a heartfelt message? Prepare a written copy of your speech just in case you freeze up. Use the present tense. When telling a story or describing a situation, use the present tense.

This makes it more engaging and easier to imagine. Sprinkle in rhetorical questions. This will keep the jurors minds active and engaged. Know your audience. Think of your classmates who will make up the jury—their gender, cultural background, educational background, religious and moral beliefs, interests, etc. Use logic AND emotion. Your arguments will focus mostly on logic and facts, but the emotionally-charged language you use to describe those arguments should hit the jurors right in the feels.

Be ready to back up claims. Steer clear of using opinions or hearsay in your opening statement. Be real. Doing so will lose trust with the jury. Taco Bell opening statement looks like when you put it all together. Feel free to model this structure for your opening statement:.

My name is Mitch Glass, and I will be representing Mr. Burger King in this important case. Burgers are gross.

This outrageous comment and the events that later transpired has made Burger King feel like shit. My client, Mr. Burger King, has been faithfully cooking burgers and putting smiles on customers faces since Does he make the healthiest burgers in the world?

Probably not. But he always works hard, strives to do his best, and puts his customers first. So hurt, in fact, that he tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Finally, in an act of desperation, he called up McDonalds and Wendys to talk it out. They all agreed that burgers were better than tacos.

And they wanted justice. Today you will hear from Karen Smith, a recent burger convert, who witnessed firsthand how sucky tacos are when her son spilled his chalupa all over the backseat of her brand new Dodge Caravan. And Mr. Now, my client realizes that burgers are by no means perfect.

He acknowledges they are greasy, unhealthy, and sometimes come with a poor bread-to-meat ratio. The same cannot be said for tacos. Ladies and gentlemen, this case is about an attention-seeking taco restaurant, desperate to increase sales, and willing to hurt the feelings of fellow fast-food restaurants in the process.