Service sits at the heart of the American Society of Digital Forensics and eDiscovery. It is more than a slogan or an aspiration. For our members it is a daily commitment to something larger than individual success. In its simplest form, service means putting skill, knowledge, and integrity at the service of others.

Servitium captures this idea well. Rooted in Latin, servitium means service freely given, not compelled. It reflects a duty chosen with intention. It is the act of standing ready to contribute expertise for the benefit of the community, even when recognition is absent, and the work is difficult. In our field of digital forensics and eDiscovery, servitium shows up in careful analysis, honest reporting, and the courage to let evidence lead where it may.

ASDFED members share these values. They understand that their role in the justice system carries weight. Courts rely on forensic practitioners not to advocate for a side but to illuminate facts. That responsibility demands humility, patience, and discipline. Service resists shortcuts, avoiding bias, and prioritizing truth over outcome.

History offers powerful examples of service-centered leadership. Martin Luther King, Jr. demonstrated that true leadership flows from service to community. His work reminds us that justice does not emerge on its own. It requires people willing to stand in uncomfortable spaces, guided by principle rather than convenience. While ASDFED members serve in different arenas, the foundation remains the same: a commitment to fairness, dignity, and truth.

In the courtroom, service takes a practical form. It means clear explanations, defensible methods, and transparent documentation. It means helping judges and juries understand complex technical evidence without distortion. It means serving the legal process itself, not personal agendas.

ASDFED exists because service matters. By embracing servitium, members reaffirm a shared purpose: to serve the community, the profession, and the pursuit of truth and justice.