Exhibits and record evidence marked for identification and filed--Reading of contents or description into trial record

All exhibits or other record evidence offered at the trial of a cause shall be marked for identification by the shorthand reporter or clerk and shall be filed as records in said cause. The trial judge may order a copy of any exhibit or of the material parts thereof filed in place of the original or may direct that the material parts thereof be read into the record upon the trial and when the exhibit is of such nature that it cannot be filed or the contents thereof read into the record, a description thereof shall be read into the record upon the trial. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1602. 15-15-4. Sale or destruction of exhibits if not collected when judgment final--Retention of necessary copies--Fee. Whenever the decision or judgment of the court has become final, the clerk of courts shall give notice to the attorneys or parties of record by electronic or first-class mail that the exhibits in the possession of the clerk, if not collected within thirty days, shall upon order of the court be destroyed or sold at sale under chapter 15-19 . However, upon proper application to the court, the exhibit may be preserved as a part of the permanent record in the files. If an exhibit is a necessary part of the judgment or consists of a written instrument establishing the liability of a party against whom judgment has been rendered, a copy of it shall be made and retained by the clerk and the original canceled by endorsement across its face before being returned to the person entitled thereto as determined by the court. Unless the person entitled thereto as determined by the court shall furnish a true copy of such exhibit, he shall pay the fee of the clerk for making such copy. Source: SDC 1939 & Supp 1960, § 33.1602; SL 1977, ch 171 ; SL 1979, ch 148 ; Supreme Court Rule 82-21; SL 1990, ch 149 , § 9; SL 2020, ch 250 (Supreme Court Rule 20-02), eff. Feb. 24, 2020.