Featured Pro: Dylan Whitt

Dylan Whitt is a Digital Forensic Examiner and Chief Investigator for the 14th Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama (Walker County District Attorney’s Office), specializing in the recovery, analysis, and presentation of electronic evidence from cell phones, computers, and other digital devices. Drawing on extensive training in digital forensics, including Secret Service cyber investigations, and years of courtroom experience, Dylan has become the go-to expert in his office for courtroom technology and trial presentation. Historically, he created intricate, custom-built PowerPoints to organize and present evidence, a process that could take days. But after signing up for a LIT SUITE trial license, he saw the difference immediately.

“I set up all of our videos, all of our 911 calls, all of our pictures from the crime scene, the autopsy, and added some PowerPoint slides I made for the charges,” he says.

That trial was a high-stakes murder case, and based on the circumstances of the case, the team wasn’t sure how it would go. But once the evidence was presented through TrialPad, the impact was clear.

Dylan connected his iPad to the built-in courtroom TVs via an HDMI cable. He told us, “The judge and jury could see everything we were doing. It was just so seamless. So professional.” Dylan recalls how every piece of digital evidence, from video clips to annotated screenshots, appeared instantly and clearly on the large displays, making it easy for everyone in the courtroom to follow along. While the attorney made his case, and directe what evidence to be displayed, Dylan controlled the flow from his iPad, ensuring a smooth, professional, and fully integrated trial experience.

"To be able to call out a gunshot wound or highlight the exact element of the statute, ‘did shoot intentionally’, and make it big enough for the jury to read, is huge."

Dylan found that the ability to add exhibit stickers and track exhibits in real time completely changed the way evidence was presented. Instead of fumbling through hundreds of files, Dylan used TrialPad to mark exhibits as they were admitted, ensuring the jury saw a polished, organized presentation.

This efficiency not only impressed the attorneys and the judge but also made a strong impact on the jury, who saw the state’s case presented in a professional and streamlined way. For Dylan, the exhibit sticker and organization features were critical, transforming what used to be a slow, clunky process into a smooth, real-time system that elevated the entire courtroom presentation.

The response from the attorneys was immediate and unanimous. “Our Chief Assistant District Attorney was in the trial too, and he said, ‘We’ve got to get this program 100%. We’ve got to have it to do these trials.’ It just made us look very professional.”

The ability to present exhibits with precision proved invaluable. During testimony from a medical examiner, Dylan was able to adapt on the fly. “She wanted 20 specific pictures out of 60-something. In TrialPad, I had already separated them into a folder. The prosecutor could say, ‘Show me the picture of the heart,’ and boom, there it was in seconds, no waiting. With PowerPoint, it might have taken me three minutes.”

That efficiency translates directly into credibility in front of a jury. “In a trial, those seconds matter,” Dylan explains. “The jury pays attention to that. TrialPad made our case look way more professional than using PowerPoint.”