Exhibits first shall be sought to be returned to the attorneys who introduced them, if possible, or to the owners, if they can be determined. Questions as to ownership of exhibits shall be submitted to the judge who tried the case, or to the presiding judge. Attorneys or owners of exhibits shall be notified to remove them; in the event of their failure to do so within 30 days, or if the attorneys or owners are not available or cannot be determined, the exhibits shall be disposed of or destroyed as ordered by the judge who tried the case, or the presiding judge.
§ 6-503.Questioned ownership of exhibits.
Article 5: Exhibit Disposition and Review · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 22, 2026
In one sentenceThis section governs exhibits with unclear ownership: they go first to the introducing attorney or a determined owner, ownership disputes go to the trial judge or presiding judge, and unclaimed exhibits are disposed of or destroyed as ordered after 30 days’ notice.
Full Text of § 6-503
Plain-English Summary
Section 6-503 handles the harder case: an exhibit nobody has clearly claimed, or one where more than one person might have a right to it. The first move is basic — try to return the exhibit to the attorney who introduced it, or to its owner, if either can be identified. When ownership itself is in question, that question goes to the judge who tried the case, or to the presiding judge if that judge is not available to decide it.
Once an owner or introducing attorney is identified, they get notice to remove the exhibit. If they do not act within 30 days, or if no one can be found or identified in the first place, the exhibit is disposed of or destroyed, but only as ordered by the judge who tried the case or the presiding judge — not on the clerk’s own initiative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides an ownership dispute over a trial exhibit?
The judge who tried the case, or the presiding judge, resolves questions about who owns an exhibit.
What happens if the attorney or owner cannot be found?
If the attorney or owner is not available or cannot be determined, the exhibit is disposed of or destroyed as ordered by the trial judge or the presiding judge.
How long does an owner have to remove an exhibit after being notified?
30 days. If the exhibit is not removed within that period, disposal or destruction can be ordered.
Can a clerk destroy an unclaimed exhibit without a judge’s order?
No. Disposal or destruction under this section happens only as ordered by the judge who tried the case or the presiding judge.
Who is tried first to reclaim an exhibit — the attorney or the owner?
The section directs that exhibits first be sought to be returned to the introducing attorneys, if possible, or to the owners, if they can be determined.
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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