Opening The Pleadings
Defined in 2 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Black's (1891)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
Making an opening statement to the jury of the issues at the beginning of a trial. OPERARIUS (Law Lat. from opus, work).
In old English law. A workman or laborer. Pleta, lib. 2, c. 73, § 4.
A Dictionary of Law
Henry Campbell Black · 1891
Stat. ing briefly at a trial before a jury the sub. stance of the pleadings. This is done by the junior counsel for the plaintiff at the commencement of the trial.