Louisiana Bar – Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, And Evidence Practice Exam

The key concept is authentication of official records and the hearsay rules that cover them. A Louisiana automobile registration certificate is a public record created by a government office (the DMV) to document ownership. As a public record, it fits within the public records exception to hearsay, so its contents can be admitted even though the maker is not testifying. If the DMV keeps these records in the ordinary course of business, the document could also be admissible under the business records exception. In either case, a certified copy of a public record is self-authenticating, meaning no separate witness is required to prove its authenticity. Duplicates are generally admissible, and a certified copy satisfies the best evidence rule without needing the original. So the judge should rule the document admissible under the public records exception, and it may also fall within the business records exception; the certified public document is self-authenticating.