Digital evidence is an increasingly vital component of criminal investigations, yet it presents a number of challenges to lawyers and judges. This type of evidence can be difficult to assess without the right understanding and tools, making it hard for legal professionals to effectively address in court proceedings. To provide context on this issue, two key reasons why digital evidence is difficult for lawyers and judges to adequately address are outlined below.

The first reason why digital evidence is challenging for lawyers and judges to address is due to the complexity of the technology involved. Digital devices contain immense amounts of data that can be used as potential evidence, which must then be extracted properly during an investigation. In order for this process to occur successfully, legal teams must have the technical knowledge needed to understand how the device works, what data exists and when it was last accessed or modified. Unfortunately many attorneys lack this expertise which makes obtaining reliable digital evidence difficult in some cases. Additionally since technology constantly evolves even experienced professionals may encounter difficulty decoding newer technologies or software versions that they may not be familiar with.