A survey reveals that the use of smart phones as evidence in court has grown exponentially. Here are some facts and figures about the practice.
By Dinh Nguyen, Family Lawyer Magazine Editor
According to a recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), 92 per cent of the nation’s top lawyers have witnessed an increase in the number of cases using evidence taken from smart phones (like the iPhone and Androids operating machines).
“As smart phones and text messaging become main sources of communication during the course of each day, there will inevitably be more and more evidence that an estranged spouse can collect,” said, AAML president, Ken Altshuler on AAML website. “Text messages can be particularly powerful forms of evidence during a divorce case, because they are written records of someone’s thoughts, actions and intentions.”
The AAML survey also recorded the following:
Use of Smart Phones as Evidence in Court and Text Messages
- 94% respondents also cited witnessing an increase of the use of text messages as evidence in court.
- 4% of respondents stated that they have seen no increase in lawyers using text messages as evidence
- 2% observed “no change.”
Types of evidence being produced by technology
- 62% of lawyers agree that text messages are the most common
- 23% quote emails
- 13% quote phone number and call histories, and
- 1% quote GPS and Internet search histories.
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