let's find all the facts, cases and news reports of this subject...

CAN electronic correspondance be used as evidence in a court of law?

what I'm finding is: Yes. it absolutely most certainly can. but it can also be thrown out as evidence too. for every case you find of it being dismissed as evidence, there is a case allowing it.

http://www.cryoserver.com/servlet/dycon/zentext/cryoserver/cryoserver/en/Graphic/evidence_index

http://www.out-law.com/page-5537

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20030204/1431244.shtml

http://www.forensicon.com/articles/liability-of-email-as-evidence.asp

a recent high-profile case where e-mail just added to suspicion, but didn't prove anything:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/dakarr29.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/frompost/nov98/email01.htm

http://arkfeld.blogs.com/ede/email/

what are your thoughts on this? The forensic science of validating the origin of email is interesting...

I don't know enough about the forensics of emails, but if it can be proven "without a shadow of a doubt" then I say use them. I'm sure a lot of people send all sorts of nasty messages without thinking they can be kept or used in the future.

When in doubt...do without. I should think that it isn't much different from the any case that uses phone records. And in the current atmosphere (read 'erosion of rights under semi-fascist administration')...I can see anything and everything becoming okay to use for prosecution.

'Never write anything down'...as my lawyer tells me.

...hmmm, my lawyer says: don't lie or break the law.

ah, that explains it...he's my friend and gives me free advice. lol

I thought you had a lawyer was because you live in the U.S. and thus could get sued for casting shadow on somebody's shoe.

...only if they can prove it was my shadow. DNA testing hasn't reached that level of sophistication....yet.