A trial abstract is a legal document drafted by the Defense lawyers, reviewed for accuracy by the Prosecution and submitted to a state's Appellate Court.

The purpose of creating an Abstract is to make it easier for any post trial appellate judge to review the testimonies and arguments of a case without having to read a trial's complete transcript. The complete 1100 page Echols/Baldwin Trial Abstract, which is approximately one tenth the size of the full trial transcript, is on file at The Arkansas State Supreme Court Law Library and is available to the public.

Straightforward, non-controversial testimony is usually pared down to a few lines, but crucial testimony or testimony that is related to important issues under appeal is usually presented in great detail, often word for word. The format of an Abstract renders a witness's testimony (even when it is being summarized) into the first person, such as "On May 5th I did this, then I did that... " The connecting paragraphs are also rendered in the first person voice of the lawyers involved.

The excerpts from the trial abstract on this site are presented intact except where they are labeled "Partial."