After all challenges have been made, the six or 12 people remaining make up the jury. The courtroom deputy or judge then administers the oath to the jury. All interested parties and observers are seated in the courtroom before the trial is scheduled to begin. Everyone stands as the judge enters the courtroom and remains standing until the judge is seated. Beginning with the plaintiff's side, each party's attorney usually makes an opening statement.
Opening statements outline the facts that each party expects to establish during the trial.
The plaintiff's attorney calls his or her witnesses first. Under direct examinations, the attorney asks questions of each witness. After the questions, the other party may ask questions of the same witnesses. This is called cross-examination. After the plaintiff has presented witnesses, the defense is entitled to present its case, and a similar process of direct and cross-examination takes place.