This appears to be the same as a copyeditor's note for a paragraph. This looks like a draft of a document that would be re-written more carefully crafted formal document. This would be indicating the need for a paragraph break.

edit: I yield to the counsel for the plaintiff, /u/qfrostine_esq. I believe the attorney may be correct, and his suggestion carries weight.

Possibly a pi symbol. I am an attorney and in our notes, which we are taught in law school, we use pi to symbolize plaintiff and delta for defendant. To me, it would make sense to identify him as "plaintiff Patrick sneed alias Joseph Watson." Especially if you are quickly taking notes in a courtroom.

http://www.lnctips.com/legalsymbols.html