Many of our judges have authorized the use of the Jury Evidence Recording System (JERS) to capture evidence electronically before and during a trial. JERS provides a number of advantages to court personnel, jurors, and counsel. It provides easy access to evidence during deliberation through the use of a touch screen computer, reducing the need for the courtroom deputy and jurors to handle physical evidence. During deliberation, jurors can view the evidence multiple times, rewind videos, and enlarge photos. Counsel can feel confident the evidence will be viewed in the most persuasive means possible.
Electronic evidence files are provided, by each party, on a single storage device such as a CD, DVD, or USB drive to the courtroom deputy/law clerk for court proceedings where evidence presentation is required or prior to the beginning of trial. Typically the specified times are referenced in the judge’s trial order. The evidence files will ONLY be utilized in court and will not be provided to an opposing party. JERS is NOT used by counsel during trial or other proceedings to present evidence. Exhibits are presented to the jury or the court by a laptop connection or by conventionally presenting exhibits using the electronic document camera.
As it is the court’s practice, exhibits received into evidence shall remain in the custody of the offering party until appeal time has expired or resolved. Parties retaining custody shall make such exhibits available to opposing counsel for appeal preparation and are responsible for transmission of exhibits to the appellate court, if required.
See JERS Instructions for more information. Note that not all of our judges are utilizing JERS. Please check with individual chambers to learn more about each judge’s trial preferences.