Evidence Brief

Building a Defensible Source Trail

How public records are preserved, cited, compared and updated.

Published 26 September 2026 · Editorial methods

Start with the status

Readers should identify whether a statement is an allegation, an official finding, a court ruling, an appeal, an acquittal or an unresolved claim. Those categories are not interchangeable.

Follow the source trail

A defensible file identifies the record, issuing body, date, relevant passage and limitations. Secondary reporting can add context but should not replace the primary source where one is available.

Check responses and changes

Subjects should have a meaningful opportunity to respond. Published work should show later rulings, corrections and material updates rather than freezing a case at its most dramatic moment.