Rule 107 Rule of Optional Completeness

When one side in a case shares only part of a conversation, document, or recorded statement, the other side has the right to bring in the rest of it. This prevents someone from cherry-picking only the parts that help their case while leaving out context that tells a different story.

For example, if one side reads just one paragraph from a long email, the other side can read the rest of the email to make sure the judge or jury gets the full picture. The same applies to spoken conversations, depositions, and other recorded materials.

The goal of this rule is fairness. The judge or jury should hear enough information to understand what was actually said or written, not just the pieces one side chose to highlight.