Plaintiff vs Defendant Exhibit Labeling: Color Standards & Naming Codes

Standardized Exhibit Stickers

Courts maintain rigid customs regarding how physical exhibits are stickered. Placing the wrong color sticker or improper numbering scheme creates confusion during trial.

The Traditional Color Hierarchy

• Plaintiff / Petitioner Exhibits: Traditionally labeled with YELLOW self-adhesive exhibit stickers.
• Defendant / Respondent Exhibits: Traditionally labeled with BLUE self-adhesive exhibit stickers.
• Joint Exhibits: Traditionally labeled with WHITE or GREEN stickers designated as "Joint Exhibit 1", "Joint Exhibit 2".

Numbers vs Letters Conventions

In most state courts, Plaintiffs utilize Arabic numbers (1, 2, 3...) while Defendants utilize alphabetical letters (A, B, C... AA, BB, CC). However, in complex federal cases, judges frequently order all parties to utilize pre-allocated numeric blocks (e.g., Plaintiff: 1-500; Defendant: 501-1000) to streamline the electronic courtroom record.