— The opening argument was one of Devlin-Brown’s favorite…
““— The opening argument was one of Devlin-Brown’s favorite parts of a trial. In a case like this, it was sometimes all that mattered. The U.S. Attorney’s Office had a formula for it, a system that was passed down through generations of prosecutors. It started with what they called “the grab”—a quick, two-minute summary of the case, meant to capture the jury’s attention. The grab could begin in one of two ways. The first was with a big thematic idea, as in, “This is a case about greed.” Devlin-Brown preferred what he called the “It was a dark and stormy night” beginning, which dropped the jurors right into a dramatic scene. Just like in a movie. On this day, his version began with, “It was July of 2008.” He spoke in a gentle, even voice. “Mathew Martoma, the defendant, was one of about a thousand people packed into a crowded Chicago convention hall waiting for an expert on Alzheimer’s disease to take the stage.” Sidney Gilman, he explained, was at an international Alzheimer’s conference to unveil the results of a hotly anticipated drug trial. The results of””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Prosecutors use a concise, dramatic opening ("the grab") to seize juror attention, often starting with a vivid scene or thematic hook.
In simple terms: A strong opening grabs juror focus.
Key Takeaway
Craft compelling opening statements.
Themes
Law
courtroom
communication
storytelling
persuasion
Mood
strategic
persuasive
Type
Jury:1
Trial Case:1
Prosecutors Started:0
Argument Devlin:0
Case Greed:0
Jury Attention:0
When to use this quote
- legal training
- trial preparation
- public speaking
Key Concepts
Narrative framing
jury psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does a vivid opening affect verdicts?
- Can too much drama backfire?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on drama may distract from facts.