Case Name: HODGE vs. HIS CREDITORS
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1832-04
Citations: 4 La. 8
Docket Number: 
Parties: HODGE vs. HIS CREDITORS.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 4
Pages: 8–9

Head Matter:
HODGE vs. HIS CREDITORS.
APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF THE FIRST DISTRICT,
A certificate which states a want of recollection in the judge, in relation to matters given in evidence, or that he does not recollect any thing having been adduced except what the record contains, is too negative in its terms to induce a positive belief that such record contains all the evidence adduced by the parties.
Without such a certificate as is required by law, the Supreme Court cannot investigate the merits of a case.
A certificate which states a want of recollection in the judge in relation to matters given in evidence, or that he does not recollect any thing having been adduced except what the record contains, is too negative in its terms to induce a positive belief thatsuch record contains all the evidence addutiesbythe pal'
Withoutsuch a certificate as is required by law, Supreme Court cannot investigate the merits of a case.
In this case, the record was certified by the judge in the following words : “I do certify that I have no recollection of any other matter having been given in evidence, on the trial of this cause than what is contained in the record.”
Whereupon,

Opinion:
Mathews, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
The record in this case was brought up without any certificate of the judge a quo, or statement of facts, as required by the 576iA article of the Code of Practice, and was sent back to be completed. It now appears, with a certificate of that judge, in these terms: " I have no recollection of any other matter having been given in evidence, on the trial in this cause, than what is contained in the record." It is evident, that this certificate does not fulfil the requisitions of the article of the Code cited. By that article, a judge from whose judgement an appeal is taken, is required to certify, at the foot of the record, that it contains all the evidence adduced by the parties; otherwise, he must make a statement of facts, &c. A certificate which states a want recollection-in the judge in relation to matters given in evidence, or that he does not recollect any thing having been . . , , , , . . adduced, except what the record contains, is too negative in its terms to induce a positive belief that such record contains all the evidence adduced by the parties. The appellant should have been more diligent in causing the record to be legally certified in due time. The judge is not to blame if at this date, his recollection does not better serve him. Without a certificate, as required by law, we cannot, with propriety* investigate the merits of the cause.
Pierce, for appellant, Carleton and Lockett, for appelleesv
It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged, and decreed, that this appeal be dismissed, at the costs of the appellant.