Opening

In American Practice. The beginning; the commencement; the first address of the counsel. The opening is made immediately upon the impaneling of the jury. It embraces the reading of such of the pleadings as may be necessary, and a brief outline of the case as the party expects to prove it, where there is a trial, or of the argument, where it is addressed to the court. In English Practice. The address made immediately after the evidence is closed. Such address usually states, first, made, to show that they are just and reasonable; second, at least an outline of the evidence by which those claims are to be established; third, the legal grounds and authorities in favor of the claim or of the proposed evidence; fourth, an anticipation of the expected defense, and statement of the grounds on which it is futile, either in law or justice, and the reasons why it ought to fail. But the court will sometimes restrict counsel from an anticipation of the defense. 3 Chit. Prac. 881; 3 Bouv. Inst, note 3044 et seq.

In American Practice. The beginning. The commencement. The first address of the counsel. The opening is made immediately upon the impanelling of the jury: it embraces the reading of such of the pleadings as may be necessary, and a brief outline of the case as the party expects to prove it, where there is a trial, or of the argument, where it is addressed to the court.

In American practice. The beginning; the commencement; the first address of the counsel.