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Opening statements are the most important part of a trial – as lawyers in Trump’s hush money case know well

  • Written by Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., Professor of Law, Harvard University
imageFormer U.S. President Donald Trump enters Manhattan Criminal Court on April 22, 2024. Victor J. Blue - Pool/Getty Images

Though Hollywood movies about courtroom dramas often glamorize the closing arguments given by lawyers, in reality the opening statement is likely the most important single event of a trial.

Such was the case in the hush money...

Read more: Opening statements are the most important part of a trial – as lawyers in Trump’s hush money case...

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