Criminal Defense Exhibits in Texas
Complete guide to preparing criminal defense exhibits that comply with Texas court requirements. Learn the correct labeling conventions, exchange deadlines, and e-filing procedures.
- Texas's primary rule governing exhibit preparation is TRCP 194.4.
- Plaintiffs in Texas label exhibits with Numbers or Letters (varies by court).
- Defendants in Texas label exhibits with Letters or D-prefix (varies by court).
- Texas courts require electronic exhibits to be filed through eFileTexas.
- Exhibits must be exchanged with opposing counsel 30 days before trial (TRCP 194.4) under TRCP 194.4.
- Common criminal defense exhibits in Texas include police reports, body camera footage, witness statements.
- ExhibitPrep applies Texas exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so criminal defense case files never leave the user's computer.
Texas Exhibit Requirements at a Glance
| Plaintiff Exhibits | Numbers or Letters (varies by court) |
| Defendant Exhibits | Letters or D-prefix (varies by court) |
| Exchange Deadline | 30 days before trial (TRCP 194.4) |
| Primary Rule | TRCP 194.4 |
| E-Filing System | eFileTexas |
Common Criminal Defense Exhibits
Police Reports
Arrest reports, incident reports, supplemental reports. For Texas e-filing on eFileTexas, confirm the current file-size cap (25 MB per document / 35 MB per envelope (total submission)) before uploading.
Body Camera Footage
Screenshots and stills from body-worn cameras
Witness Statements
Prosecution and defense witness statements
Expert Reports
Forensic analysis, DNA experts, medical examinations
Character Evidence
Letters, employment records, community ties
Physical Evidence Photos
Photographs of physical evidence items
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Texas-Specific Considerations
- Mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses
- Grand jury system requires indictment review
- Texas Rangers/DPS reports follow specific formats
- Habitual offender enhancements change exhibit needs
How to Prepare Your Exhibits
Gather Your Documents
Collect all documents relevant to your criminal defense case. This typically includes police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, and other supporting evidence.
Convert to PDF
Convert all documents to PDF format. Texas courts require electronic exhibits to be filed via eFileTexas. Scan paper documents at 300 DPI.
Apply Exhibit Labels
Use ExhibitPrep to add Texas-compliant exhibit stamps. Plaintiffs use Numbers or Letters (varies by court), defendants use Letters or D-prefix (varies by court).
Exchange with Opposing Counsel
Exchange your exhibit list and copies with opposing counsel 30 days before trial (TRCP 194.4) per TRCP 194.4.
Save Hours on Exhibit Preparation
ExhibitPrep stamps all your criminal defense exhibits in minutes, not hours. Upload your documents, select the correct Texas template, and download court-ready exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I label criminal defense exhibits in Texas?
Use Numbers or Letters (varies by court) for plaintiff exhibits and Letters or D-prefix (varies by court) for defense exhibits, per TRCP 194.4. Under TRCP 193.7, documents produced in discovery are presumed authentic against the producing party unless an objection is raised within 10 days of notice. ExhibitPrep's Criminal Defense templates apply the right prefix automatically, so you're not re-deriving the local convention on every filing.
When do I have to exchange criminal defense exhibits in Texas?
Texas sets the exhibit exchange window at 30 days before trial (TRCP 194.4), though the exact date can shift with your assigned judge's scheduling order. Confirm the deadline in your case's pretrial order before you start stamping, then batch-process the full criminal defense production in one ExhibitPrep session once it's locked in.
What e-filing system handles criminal defense exhibits in Texas?
Texas runs electronic filing through eFileTexas. Check the current upload cap before filing (25 MB per document / 35 MB per envelope (total submission)), export each exhibit as a text-searchable PDF, and split any long police reports into separate files so a single scanned record doesn't blow past the limit.
What exhibits come up most in a Texas criminal defense case?
Criminal Defense matters in Texas typically turn on police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, plus whatever case-specific records the dispute calls for. Mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses. Stamp them all inside ExhibitPrep using the matching plaintiff or defense template, so every exhibit in the production carries a consistent, court-compliant mark before it goes to opposing counsel.
Can I stamp a large criminal defense production for Texas courts?
Yes. The Day Pass ($14.99) gives you unlimited stamping for 24 hours, which covers hundreds of exhibits in a single criminal defense case. Processing runs entirely in your browser, so your Texas case files never leave your computer. That matters here because e-filing upload caps (25 MB per document / 35 MB per envelope (total submission)) often force a large production into multiple separate uploads.
Related Resources
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ExhibitPrep provides general information about court exhibit practices, not legal advice. Requirements change — verify current rules with your court or clerk before filing.