Computer Printouts as Evidence: Stricter Foundation or Presumption of Reliability?
Mark A. Johnson · Marquette law review · 1992
Computer-generated evidence is an increasingly important resource in today's court room.Much evidence that was once created manually is now created by computer.I Given this fact, the issue facing courts is whether the legal system is in need of new rules of evidence or stricter foundation requirements to deal adequately with computer-generated evidence.2 Some courts and commentators maintain that although computer-generated records have an aura of reliability, they are actually more unreliable and inaccurate than traditional forms of evidence.Therefore, the argument goes, the legal system needs new rules of evidence or stricter foundation requirements to deal with computer printouts.'Others contend, however, 1.Computer use in the courtroom has grown explosively in the last three decades.See