Opinion ID: 1035458
Heading Depth: 6
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Common Safeguards

Text: Significantly, many of the dangers in allowing the use of demonstrative exhibits in jury deliberations stem from the improper use of such exhibits or a disregard for their limited purpose. As such, these dangers often can be avoided by the use of limiting instructions that advise a jury of the limited purpose for which demonstrative exhibits should be employed. As noted earlier, the limiting instruction is the most prevalent safeguard used by the circuit courts. Moreover, several circuits have held that limiting instructions can limit66 or even eliminate67 the harms posed by demonstrative exhibits. In addition to jury instructions, there are other safeguards that can be employed to limit the prejudice that will result from allowing the jury to use demonstrative exhibits in deliberations. These safeguards include requiring the proponent of the exhibit to lay foundation for its use outside the presence 65 See State v. Daly, supra note 6. 66 See, e.g., U.S. v. Bishop, 264 F.3d 535 (5th Cir. 2001); U.S. v. Francis, 131 F.3d 1452 (11th Cir. 1997). 67 See, e.g., United States v. Cox, 633 F.2d 871 (9th Cir. 1980); Sanseverino v. United States, 321 F.2d 714 (10th Cir. 1963). Nebraska Advance Sheets 380 286 NEBRASKA REPORTS of the jury,68 having the individual who prepared the exhibit testify concerning the exhibit,69 allowing extensive cross-­ examination of the individual who prepared the exhibit,70 giving the opponent of the exhibit the opportunity to examine the exhibit prior to its admission and to identify errors,71 excising prejudicial content prior to submitting the exhibit to the jury,72 and giving the opposing side the opportunity to present its own exhibit.73 As noted above, the prejudicial potential of any particular demonstrative exhibit will vary depending on the exhibit. Having presided over the presentation of evidence, the trial judge should exercise sound discretion to ensure that adequate safeguards are present to prevent that prejudice.