Responding to Defense Demands for
Government Assistance in Large ESI
Criminal Cases

Voluminous discovery productions affect every stage of the Department of Justice’s criminal
cases. Investigations have become more data-driven, and prosecuting even seemingly simple cases often
hinges on reliable data management as much as reliable witness testimony. Prosecutors’ obligations
dealing with electronically stored information (“ESI”) have also changed, and Department lawyers handle
ESI assiduously so that they can understand the full scope of what they have collected, discern the
significance of the evidence, and meet stringent discovery obligations.