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