What is the purpose of a custody order for exhibits?

• A. To schedule when exhibits are displayed during trial.
• B. To ensure the safe custody, preservation, and chain of custody of physical or digital exhibits.
• C. To determine ownership of exhibits.
• D. To assign exhibits to the jury for examination.

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is protecting the integrity and traceability of evidence. A custody order for exhibits sets how physical or digital items are stored, who may handle them, and how every transfer or access is documented. This safeguards preservation, prevents tampering, and creates a verifiable chain of custody from collection through presentation at trial, which is essential for proving authenticity and admissibility. For physical items, it often means secure storage in an evidence locker, strict handling rules, and signed, time-stamped logs each time the item is moved. For digital items, it includes measures like preserving the original data, maintaining access controls, and recording any changes with audit trails and checksums. While exhibits are shown or examined during the proceedings, the custody order’s primary purpose is maintaining control and integrity, not determining ownership or assigning items to the jury.