opening statement
First words spoken
An opening statement is the first address made by each side's attorney at the start of a trial, outlining what they intend to prove.
It previews the case without arguing it—lawyers present their narrative and promise what the evidence will show: In her opening statement, the prosecutor described the defendant's movements that night.
Distinguished from closing arguments, which come after all evidence has been presented.
Judicial proceedings chamber
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
- defenseProtection against harm
testimony · allegation · jurisdiction · verdict · litigation · counsel · judge · jury
Academic argument requiring defense
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- premiseFoundation for logical argument
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
- assertionConfident statement of fact
claim · position · stance · persuasion · rhetoric · appeal · framing · narrative
Speak to formally
- remarksSpoken comments or notes
- declarationFormal public announcement
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
envoy · protocol · negotiation · accord · bilateral · communiqué · preamble · greeting
Formal response disputing claims
- affirmativeExpressing agreement or consent
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- contentionAssertion or rivalry
case · framework · criterion · burden of proof · constructive · crossfire · round · motion
Condensed version of text
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- scopeExtent or range
literature review · dissertation · defense · presentation · conference · symposium · paper · research question
courtroom
Judicial proceedings chamber
- plaintiffCivil case initiator
- defendantParty facing charges
- prosecutionPursuing legal charges
defense · testimony · allegation · jurisdiction · verdict · litigation · counsel · judge · jury · trial
thesis
Academic argument requiring defense
- argumentReasoned case or dispute
- premiseFoundation for logical argument
- propositionStatement expressing a judgment
assertion · claim · position · stance · persuasion · rhetoric · appeal · framing · narrative · hook
address
Speak to formally
- remarksSpoken comments or notes
- declarationFormal public announcement
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
delegation · envoy · protocol · negotiation · accord · bilateral · communiqué · preamble · greeting · welcoming
rebuttal
Formal response disputing claims
- affirmativeExpressing agreement or consent
- negativeOpposite of affirmative
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
contention · case · framework · criterion · burden of proof · constructive · crossfire · round · motion · proposition
abstract
Condensed version of text
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
scope · literature review · dissertation · defense · presentation · conference · symposium · paper · research question · objectives
- Criminal Procedurearraignment, arrest, grand jury, investigation, guilty plea
- criminal trialstrials, accused, verdicts, convictions, charges
- Debate Skillsargument, rebuttal, logic, persuasion, evidence
- Judicial Appointmentsjudicial nominee, nomination, nominee, confirmation hearing, confirmation vote
- trial preptrial exhibits, witness prep, mock trial, witness list, voir dire
- communicationsannouncement, telephone, address, phone, key messages
opening statementclosing argument
Lawyer's final courtroom address
closing statement · summation · closing remarks · rebuttal · final remarks
opening statementclosing statement
Final remarks in proceedings
closing argument · conclusion · final remarks · closing remarks · summation
opening, statement, openly, opened, opens, opener, reopen, unopened, reopened