This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
Before any evidence gets presented at trial, both sides get a chance to give the jury a preview of their case. This is called an opening statement.
In criminal cases, the prosecution goes first and gives a short summary of the evidence they plan to show. The defense can then give their own short summary of their evidence, but they don't have to. The defense can choose to skip the opening statement entirely and wait until later in the trial to make their case.
In civil cases, whichever side has to prove their claim first (usually the person who filed the lawsuit) gives their opening statement first. The other side then gets a chance to give their own short summary of the evidence they plan to present.
The main point of an opening statement is to help the jury understand what each side plans to prove. It's not the actual evidence itself, just a roadmap of what's coming. Keeping these statements brief helps the trial move along and keeps the jury focused on what really matters: the evidence and testimony that follows.
