Local Rule LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 55: RECORDS
M.D. La. — Criminal rule
LOCAL CRIMINAL RULE 55 - RECORDS
(a) Withdrawal of Files. Files in the office of the Clerk of Court may be removed from it only for the use of the Court or with leave of Court or permission of the Clerk of Court first obtained.
(b) Electronic Evidence for Trials. Evidence offered during trial shall be provided by each party in electronic format as described in the Court's Administrative Procedures, court orders, and notices.
(c) Electronic Evidence for All Other Proceedings. Evidence offered during proceedings other than trial shall be provided by each party in electronic format as described in the Court's Administrative Procedures, court orders, and notices.
(d) Custody of Exhibits With the Clerk of Court.
(1) These rules provide for all exhibits offered and received in evidence to be submitted in electronic format; therefore, the electronic evidence becomes the official record.
(2) After being received in evidence, all exhibits shall be placed in the custody of the Clerk of Court, in electronic format, as outlined in the Court's Administrative Procedures, court orders, and notices, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
(e) Custody of Exhibits With the Offering Party.
(1) Offering parties are required to submit digital photographs of all oversized or physical exhibits, received into evidence (e.g., models, enlarged diagrams), properly showing significant features of those exhibits.
(2) At the conclusion of a trial or proceeding, the party offering such exhibits shall retain custody of the physical exhibits and be responsible to the Court for preserving them in their condition as of the time admitted until any appeal is resolved or the time for appeal has expired.
(3) The party retaining custody shall make such exhibits available to opposing counsel for use in preparation of an appeal and be responsible for their safe transmission to the Appellate Court, if required.
(f) Disposition of Exhibits. All exhibits in the custody of the Clerk of Court shall be removed within thirty days of the final disposition of the case. The party offering exhibits shall be responsible for their removal and shall give a detailed receipt for the clerk's records. If the parties or their attorneys fail or refuse to remove exhibits within thirty days, the exhibits may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by the Clerk of Court.