Legal Definitions - Marked for Identification

Definition: An item that has been “marked for identification” is given a number or letter to identify it for use in a legal trial. These items have not yet been entered into evidence. Once entered into evidence, they are referred to as an “exhibit” with the corresponding number or letter it was originally assigned when marked for identification.

During a trial, a lawyer may want to use a document as evidence. Before the document can be used as evidence, it must be marked for identification. The document is given a number or letter to identify it. The lawyer can then refer to the document by its assigned number or letter when questioning a witness or presenting evidence.

Another example is a piece of physical evidence, such as a weapon or a piece of clothing. The item is marked for identification with a number or letter to identify it. This helps to keep track of the evidence and prevent it from getting lost or mixed up with other evidence.

These examples illustrate how marking an item for identification helps to organize potential exhibits in a legal trial. It ensures that each piece of evidence is easily identifiable and can be referred to by its assigned number or letter.