Content Warning: A brief, non-graphic mention of a sex crime case occurring from 29:34 to 30:49.
Everyone likes to start off on the right foot, and your opening statement is a crucial place to do it. It’s also Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Latta’s favorite part of trial, so she joined the podcast to discuss her best tips on telling the right story, using visual aids for maximum impact, and pulling out all the stops to captivate your jurors. She also talks about some of her own openings at trial and what she holds to be the G.O.A.T. of opening statements.
Timestamps & More
Topics
3:00 What’s fun about openings?
4:07 Rhetorical and legal goals
6:05 Crafting an opening
8:46 Workshopping it
10:54 Figuring out the right story to tell
13:00 Telling auditory stories for visual consumers
14:36 Some good don’ts
15:30 Visual aids
17:10 Court clearance for visual aids
19:01 Objections
21:53 Case weaknesses
23:50 Closing your opening
24:42 Openings and closings, compare and contrast
26:42 Brooke’s favorite example of a great opening
32:35 Signoff questions
Quote
“Something I always do is I talk to jurors like they are a friend that I’m having a martini with and I’m sitting across the table from. And I’m just talking to that friend about something that’s a very serious, very important issue — and I’m keeping it simple, I’m keeping it concise — so it’s a serious tone, but it’s casual.” Brooke Latta