Art. 766 Opening statement by state; scope

When a criminal trial begins, the prosecutor gets to make an opening statement to the jury. This statement has to do two basic things. First, it needs to explain what crime the defendant is charged with. Second, it needs to give the jury a general idea of what evidence the prosecutor plans to use to prove that charge.

This isn't the time for the prosecutor to argue the case or get into small details. The opening statement is meant to be a roadmap, giving the jury a basic outline of what's coming during the trial. It helps jurors understand the charges and know what kind of evidence to expect as the trial moves forward.