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JIM MAllOX Attorney General

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714Jackson, Suit4 700 Dall4r. TX. 752024506 214n42.9944

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TX. 77002.3111 713/223-5999

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AnEqualOppoftunitYl Aftlrmallve Action EmPlOysr 

# The Attormy General ofTexas
:mvember 4. 1985

Honorable **Hike** Driwoll Ovinion No. SW373 Earrie County Attorney 1001 Preston, Suits 634 Houston. Texas 7'1002 RIB: Authority of district **clerk to**  signature **to a**  criminel case Dear Mr. Driscoll: a county and/or affix ajudge’s judgment in a

At the request of the District Clerk of Barris County, you have asked the follovin;g questions:

1. **ltaather** the clerk of the county and district courts or his deputies may effix by facsimile signature #tamp **the**judge’s signature to judgmantg or orders in c.rim%nal cases? 2. Pvgthar the clerk of the court may prepare ajudgme:lit in criminal cases and affix the judge’s facslmil~n signature to the same without prior review by the judge? You phrase your questions in terms of the powers of county and district clerks, but **the key**  to your questions lies in detcrminlng the purpose and significance of **a** judge’s signature on judgments and orders in criminal cases. Ajudge signs **a** variety of orders in criminal cases. See Code Grim. Proc. art. 42.01 (defining a “judgment” as a -itten **declaration of**  thl? court signed by the trial judge and entered of record”). The purpose **of a** judge’8 signature m such instruments is **to show** his knwled:pe and approval of the contents. See Bustillos V. State, 213 S.W.2d 837, 841 (Tex. Grim. App. 1948),uoting In re sr’s Estate, LILOCal. 387, 42 P. 815, 816 (1895). It is the reeponsibility **of** the judge to read every judgment and order. See Burrell v. Corneliut,, 570 S.W.2d 302. 304 (Tex. 1978). The sIgnat= signifies that he lms done so. In **a** 1929 cat%). the court of criminal appeals held that ajustice **of** the peace could, “sign ” a search warrant with a facsimile stamp or stencil. **Stork** v. State. 23 S.U.2d 733 (Tu. Crim. App. 1929). The -- court wrote:

p. 1707,

i Eonorable MikeDriscoll - PaSe 2 (JH-373)

[I]t would be a mater of no moment vhether [the justice 

### of **tlrtr**peace] so effixed seld nameby one stroke as by ,the use 

### of a stencil 

### or rubber stamp, or vhether ‘heset down at a typevrlter l od vrote his 

### namerl,th(fame upon such documsot, or **thet** he vrote it. out in what we commonly call looghaod , provided 

### that lo each such case **the** facts must show t,h.eoame **to** have beeo affixed by the officer hisself, or under his issaediate authority and direction sod ii~ his preseoce. In either event he has signed his oame to the documeot
. There is Inothing in our statute mskiog requirement as to 

### the manner or form of such signsture. and we knowof oo rule of reasoo which would justify us in going beyond what the law requires. Id. at 735. - The holding of Stork provides the answers to your questions. A judge **can**use a facss stamp to “sign ” a document. Id. See also Paulus v. State, 633 S.W.Zd 827. 849 (Tex. Grim. App.1981) jury foreman may use facsimile stamp on indictment); Brooks v. State, 599 S.W.2d 312, 322-323 (Tex. Grim. App. 1979) 7clerk may use facsf.uile stamp oo certain certificates). Also, someone who is under the immediate authority of ,aod lo the presence of the judge may, at his discretion, affix tht: judge’s signature by facsimile stamp. Stork, et 

### 733. The placemcut of the judge’s signature on a document by aoother person under such clrcumstaocee Is not an 

### act of agent because the other person 

### actsas 

### amere iostrument or amanuensis. See Mondragon v. Hondragoo. 257 S.W. 215. 216 (Tex. 1923). Thus, o= under those limited circusstaoces can a judge “sign ” a document by directing another person to actually place amark oo the document. 

### SUMMARY **A** judge may “sign ” **a** document by allowing aoother person **tc ’** place a mark on a 

### document**that** constitutes the judge’s approval **of** the document only if the othe:c person does so In the presence of and under the direction of the judge. 

### Very 

# J trulyy

A JIM MATTOX Attorney General of Texas MAKY KELLER Executive Assistant Attorney General

p. 1708Xonorable Mike Driscoll - PIrIle3 (a-373)

ROBBRT

GRAY Specie1 Assistaot Attorney Geoeral UICKGILPIN, **Chairman.** Opioioo **Comittee** Prepared by Sarah Woelk Assistant Attorney General iPPROV?SD: OPINION

COIMI'lTEE Rick Gilpin, Chairman Colin Carl Susao Garrison JimMoellinger Jennifer Riggs Nancy Sutton Sarah Woelk

p. 1709