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Digital Media as Evidence

NYC Housing Court Practice/Procedures

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Digital Media as Evidence

Postby NODEAL » Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:18 pm

The building in which L&T Court is housed
(141 Livingston Street, Brooklyn) does not
allow you to bring any electronic devices
(other than your cellphone) into the
building past security in the lobby.

I wish to present video footage as evidence.
I can have it on a digital camera or on a CD only.

So, devices needed to play the footage are not
admissable into the building (on my person).

Is anybody aware of some way to be granted permission
to have such a device in court so that I can play the footage.

(On TV shows you frequantly see the “smoking gun video tape”
being used in court as evidence. Is that all just fiction?)
NODEAL
 

Analog media preferred, but one possible workaround

Postby NeoAmsterdam » Sun Feb 10, 2008 1:41 pm

Excellent question, NODEAL. I wish I had "the" answer.

From what I gleamed in passing from a now-retired judge who teaches at our college, the courts should be able to provide equipment to play audiocassettes and VHS videocassettes. I inferred from our chit-chat over coffee that there aren't provisions for digital playback.

Any idea if the security crew at L&T also object to laptops? If they're OK with it, then all you may need is to transfer your footage to hard disk.

Hope that helps.
NeoAmsterdam
 
Posts: 54
Joined: Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:38 pm
Location: NYC, NY

Postby cardinalfang » Sun Feb 17, 2008 12:27 pm

Laptop computers can be brought into the courthouses. In fact, some of them have wi-fi Internet access.

I agree that playback on your computer would be the way to go. If the media file can be put on a disc (CD or DVD), that would give you something tangible to introduce into evidence as an exhibit.

If you really need to bring in something that the court officers object to, then ask the judge to order that it be allowed in on the day of the trial or hearing.
cardinalfang
 


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