opening statement

An attorney’s opening statement to the jury (or judge in a bench trial) is not evidence, and is intended to be a forceful and persuasive summary of the case.

In Michigan, as in other jurisdictions, an attorney's opening statement to the jury, or to the judge in a bench trial, is not considered evidence. Instead, it serves as an overview of the case from the attorney's perspective. The purpose of the opening statement is to provide a roadmap of what the attorney believes the evidence will show, outlining the facts and legal issues that will be presented during the trial. It is designed to be a persuasive narrative that sets the stage for the evidence that will follow, but it is important for jurors and judges to understand that the statements made during this time are not themselves evidence to be considered in their deliberations. The actual evidence will come from the testimony of witnesses and the presentation of physical exhibits during the trial.

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Civil procedure