Counsel resources · FRE 902(13) / 902(14)

Knox Evidence Protocol Kit

A self-contained packet for authenticating a Knox-anchored electronic record in federal court or a state court that has adopted the federal rules. Every artifact below is downloadable; the verification script runs without any Bonis Systems server. Counsel may run it on an air-gapped machine and compare to the public API response.

SCRIPT

Verification script

Zero-dependency Node.js script. Recomputes SHA-256 hash chain and Merkle proof against a Knox record. Run on an air-gapped machine; verify the transcript is reproducible.

Download
MARKDOWN

Sample records-custodian affidavit

Starter template for counsel — fill in the bracketed fields with record-specific values. Conforms to FRE 902(13) and 902(14) authentication requirements.

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MARKDOWN

Admissibility brief

Attorney primer covering what a Knox record is, which rules apply, typical foundation, and pre-emptive responses to likely challenges.

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SPEC

TLA+ formal specification

Machine-checkable correctness properties of the Knox chain + event store. Establishes the 'electronic process that produces an accurate result' element of FRE 902(13). Download on the date of preservation to fix the version against later revisions.

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Typical workflow for counsel

  1. 1.Identify the Knox record's event hash. Request the JSON bundle and the `.ots` proof via the Bonis public API at https://bonissystems.com/api/knox/verify?hash=<HASH>.
  2. 2.Download the verification script above. Run node verify-knox-record.mjs record.json on an air-gapped machine. Preserve the transcript.
  3. 3.Adapt the sample affidavit template to your custodian + record. Attach the record bundle (Exhibit A), the verification transcript (Exhibit B), and optionally a screenshot of the public verify endpoint (Exhibit C).
  4. 4.Serve the packet as part of your FRE 902(11) notice to the opposing party. If admissibility is contested, the admissibility brief above covers the expected challenges.
  5. 5.Download the TLA+ specification on the date of preservation to fix the version against any later revisions. This establishes the 'electronic process that produces an accurate result' element of Rule 902(13).
Honest scope

Knox proves integrity of a record: the record has not been altered since it was anchored. Knox does not prove the truthfulness of the underlying facts. The authenticating affidavit must be paired with substantive evidence that the record accurately reflects the real-world event. Knox narrows a factual dispute to the real-world event itself. It does not eliminate that dispute. Counsel should frame the admissibility argument accordingly.

These resources are provided as starters. They do not constitute legal advice and have not been reviewed by counsel on behalf of the reader. You must independently evaluate admissibility in your jurisdiction. Bonis Systems LLC, UEI R2BPJDC5CBA3, CAGE 1TSP2. Wyoming.