What must be authenticated or identified before it can be admitted into court?

For any evidence to be admitted in court, it must first be authenticated or identified as genuine. This authentication ensures that the evidence is what it claims to be and has not been tampered with or altered in a way that could mislead the court.

The attorney's case file contains documents and evidence that support the case being presented. Before utilizing any contents from this file, the attorney must demonstrate that the materials are relevant and authentic. This helps establish the credibility of the information before it is presented to the judge and jury.

In contrast, deposition exhibits, while they may require some level of authentication, are considered part of a separate process where evidence is presented regarding witness testimonies, not directly tied to the physical authentication of documents themselves. The court, as an entity, does not require authentication, and bench books for trial are primarily reference materials rather than substantive evidence that needs to be authenticated. Thus, focusing on the attorney's case file emphasizes the importance of establishing the authenticity of all materials prepared for submission in a legal proceeding.