The clerks of the various courts or the official court reporters are authorized to release, under the following conditions, any exhibit offered or received in evidence in any civil, criminal, or juvenile proceeding:
§ 6-501.Authorized release of exhibits.
Article 5: Exhibit Disposition and Review · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section authorizes clerks and official court reporters to release trial exhibits back to the introducing attorney or owner, either during trial with the court’s permission to substitute a copy, or after trial or the appeal deadline under specified conditions, and allows substituting photographs or drawings for large exhibits on appeal.
Full Text of § 6-501
(A) Upon request of an introducing attorney or owner, release to such introducing attorney or owner at any time during or after trial, if request is made during trial to substitute a copy and permission is granted by the court to do so.
(B) Upon request of an introducing attorney or owner, release to such introducing attorney or owner at any time after trial or following expiration of appeal time, provided it is stipulated in writing that a copy shall be substituted, or if, in the absence of such a stipulation, the judge who tried the case, or if such judge is unavailable the current presiding judge, determines such substitution to be unnecessary.
(C) When, in compliance with Supreme Court rules governing preparation of bills of exceptions, counsel shall substitute photographs or mechanical drawings and descriptions for any large or cumbersome exhibits where such would fairly present such exhibits to the appellate court.
Plain-English Summary
Once an exhibit has done its job at trial, someone usually wants it back. Section 6-501 gives clerks and official court reporters the authority to release exhibits offered or received in evidence in any civil, criminal, or juvenile case, but only under conditions built to protect the record.
During trial, an introducing attorney or owner can get an exhibit back if a copy is substituted in its place and the court agrees to the substitution. After trial ends, or once the time to appeal has run, release becomes easier: either the parties have stipulated in writing that a copy will stand in for the original, or, absent that stipulation, the judge who tried the case (or the current presiding judge, if that judge is unavailable) decides the substitution is unnecessary.
The section also addresses exhibits headed to an appellate court. Where the rules governing bills of exceptions call for it, counsel substitutes photographs or mechanical drawings and descriptions for large or cumbersome exhibits, as long as that substitute gives the appellate judges an accurate picture of the exhibit. This keeps bulky physical evidence from having to travel with the record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my exhibit back before the trial is over?
Only if a copy is substituted in its place and the court gives permission for that substitution during trial.
What happens once trial ends or the appeal deadline passes?
The exhibit can be released to the introducing attorney or owner if the parties stipulated in writing that a copy will substitute for it, or if the trial judge or the current presiding judge decides a substitution is not needed.
Who has the authority to release an exhibit?
The clerks of the various courts or the official court reporters.
What if my exhibit is too large or awkward to include in the appellate record?
Counsel can substitute photographs or mechanical drawings and descriptions for it, consistent with the Supreme Court rules on preparing bills of exceptions, as long as the substitute gives the appellate court an accurate picture of the exhibit.
Does this section apply to criminal and juvenile cases, or only civil cases?
All three. It covers exhibits offered or received in evidence in any civil, criminal, or juvenile proceeding.
What happens to an exhibit that is never claimed for release?
Section 6-502 covers disposal of exhibits that have not been released under this section.
Source & verification. Section text is
reproduced verbatim from the Nebraska Judicial Branch, adopted by the
Supreme Court of Nebraska. Last verified July 22, 2026. ·
Official source
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