Master the Courtroom: 2026 Mock Trial Objections Challenge – Objection, Your Honor, I’m Ready!

Authentication is about proving the item is what it purports to be. For a photograph, a witness with knowledge can identify the subject and testify that the image faithfully represents the scene at the time it was taken. For a video, because moving images can be more easily altered or tampered with, the court often requires showing a chain of custody to prove who handled the recording and that it remains an accurate, unaltered depiction of the events. Self-authenticating or expert certification aren’t typically required for ordinary photos, and videos aren’t exempt from authentication; the emphasis for video is on provenance and accuracy. This is why the described distinction—photographs authenticated by a knowledgeable witness, videos requiring chain of custody and verification of accuracy—best captures the difference.