Criminal Defense Exhibits in Washington
Complete guide to preparing criminal defense exhibits that comply with Washington court requirements. Learn the correct labeling conventions, exchange deadlines, and e-filing procedures.
- Washington's primary rule governing exhibit preparation is CR 16.
- Plaintiffs in Washington label exhibits with Numbers (1, 2, 3...).
- Defendants in Washington label exhibits with Numbers with prefix (D-1, D-2...).
- Washington courts require electronic exhibits to be filed through County-specific — no statewide system.
- Exhibits must be exchanged with opposing counsel 14 days before trial (CR 16) under CR 16.
- Common criminal defense exhibits in Washington include police reports, body camera footage, witness statements.
- ExhibitPrep applies Washington exhibit stamps entirely in the browser, so criminal defense case files never leave the user's computer.
Washington Exhibit Requirements at a Glance
| Plaintiff Exhibits | Numbers (1, 2, 3...) |
| Defendant Exhibits | Numbers with prefix (D-1, D-2...) |
| Exchange Deadline | 14 days before trial (CR 16) |
| Primary Rule | CR 16 |
| E-Filing System | County-specific — no statewide system |
Common Criminal Defense Exhibits
Police Reports
Arrest reports, incident reports, supplemental reports. For Washington e-filing on County-specific — no statewide system, confirm the current file-size cap (Varies by county — confirm with the clerk) 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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Washington-Specific Considerations
- Washington's Evidence Rule 904 admits documents without live testimony if opposing counsel gets 30 days' notice and doesn't object within 14 days.
- Criminal Defense exhibits filed through County-specific — no statewide system must stay within the court's file-size cap (Varies by county — confirm with the clerk).
- Plaintiffs in Washington mark exhibits with Numbers (1, 2, 3...); defendants use Numbers with prefix (D-1, D-2...).
- Exchange your criminal defense exhibit list 14 days before trial (CR 16), and confirm any county-level variations with the clerk before trial.
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. Washington courts require electronic exhibits to be filed via County-specific — no statewide system. Scan paper documents at 300 DPI.
Apply Exhibit Labels
Use ExhibitPrep to add Washington-compliant exhibit stamps. Plaintiffs use Numbers (1, 2, 3...), defendants use Numbers with prefix (D-1, D-2...).
Exchange with Opposing Counsel
Exchange your exhibit list and copies with opposing counsel 14 days before trial (CR 16) per CR 16.
Save Hours on Exhibit Preparation
ExhibitPrep stamps all your criminal defense exhibits in minutes, not hours. Upload your documents, select the correct Washington template, and download court-ready exhibits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I label criminal defense exhibits in Washington?
Use Numbers (1, 2, 3...) for plaintiff exhibits and Numbers with prefix (D-1, D-2...) for defense exhibits, per CR 16. Washington's Evidence Rule 904 admits documents without live testimony if opposing counsel gets 30 days' notice and doesn't object within 14 days. 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 Washington?
Washington sets the exhibit exchange window at 14 days before trial (CR 16), 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 Washington?
Washington runs electronic filing through County-specific — no statewide system. Check the current upload cap before filing (Varies by county — confirm with the clerk), 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 Washington criminal defense case?
Criminal Defense matters in Washington typically turn on police reports, body camera footage, witness statements, plus whatever case-specific records the dispute calls for. Washington's Evidence Rule 904 admits documents without live testimony if opposing counsel gets 30 days' notice and doesn't object within 14 days. 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 Washington 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 Washington case files never leave your computer. That matters here because e-filing upload caps (Varies by county — confirm with the clerk) 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.