Which statement describes the purpose of an opening statement?

• A. A final summary and verdict urging statement.
• B. A record-keeping log of exhibits.
• C. A court order for arrest.
• D. A preliminary statement by each side outlining the case and what they expect to prove.

Answer: (D)

Opening statements set the stage for the trial by outlining the case and what each side plans to prove. They give jurors a roadmap: the story each side intends to tell, the key facts, the witnesses who will be called, and the types of evidence that will be presented. The goal is to provide a framework for understanding the evidence as it comes in, not to argue the outcome or decide guilt or liability—that comes later in the trial and in the closing arguments.

So, the statement that describes this purpose is the one that says each side gives a preliminary statement outlining the case and what they expect to prove. It’s not about urging a verdict, recording exhibits, or issuing arrest orders, which correspond to other stages or functions of the legal process.