What's happening
This bill allows court exhibits to be clearly identified without requiring a specific labeling method and prevents rejection solely for mislabeling.
Why it matters
Reduces barriers to submitting evidence in court. By eliminating strict labeling requirements, the bill helps ensure that important exhibits won't be rejected due to minor administrative errors, which can be crucial in time-sensitive or high-stakes cases.
Promotes fairness and access to justice. The change particularly benefits individuals and parties who may not have legal expertise or resources, such as self-represented litigants, by making procedural rules more flexible and less punitive.
Improves court efficiency. Courts can focus on the content and relevance of evidence rather than technical compliance with labeling rules, potentially speeding up proceedings and reducing unnecessary delays or resubmissions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Relax Exhibit Labeling Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 32
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1750
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to the proper form of exhibits
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Rule 2101 of the civil practice law and rules is amended by adding a new subdivision (h) to read as follows:
(h) Exhibits. Every exhibit shall be clearly identified, but no specific method of labeling shall be required. The rejection of any submission shall not be solely based on the mislabeling of any exhibit.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07273-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to the proper form of exhibits
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that judges do not deny application for pendente lite child and spousal support because "tabs" are not used to identify exhibits.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 adds new subdivision (h) to rule 2101 of the civil practice law and rules to require that exhibits be clearly identified but no specific method of labeling would be required. The rejection of any submission shall not be solely based use of "tabs" to identify exhibit.
Difference between original and amended version
N/A
Justification
Application for child and spousal support are made by orders to show cause. Judges in matrimonial cases involving child and spousal support are rejecting order to show cause application because "tabs" are not used to identify exhibits. The end result is that child and spousal support awards are being unreasonably delayed. Child and spousal support maintenance are awarded from the date the order to show cause is submit- ted and accepted. Rejecting an order to show cause because "tabs" are not used to identify exhibits unfairly denies children and spouses much needed financial support.
Prior legislative history
2016: A.9582 - Referred to Judiciary
2018: Referred to Judiciary
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.