AUTOPTIC PROFERENCE

autoptic  proference  (proh-f<<schwa>>r-<<schwa>>nts).  The  presentation  of  an  item  for

inspection  by  the  court.  See  demonstrative  evidence  under  EVIDENCE.  [Cases:  Criminal  Law

404.45; Evidence    188. C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 854–855; Evidence §§ 789–791, 794, 796.]

“Yet  another  form  of  proof  that  may  present  difficulties  in  defining  evidence  is  what

Wigmore calls ‘autoptic proference.’ By this barbarism, the learned author was referring to those

few  cases  in  which  it  is  possible  to  bring  before  the  jury  the  material  fact  itself,  rather  than

evidence  of  the  fact.”  22  Charles  Alan  Wright  &  Kenneth  W.  Graham  Jr.,  Federal  Practice  and

Procedure § 5163, at 33 (1978).[Blacks Law 8th]