Court Opinion

ID: 9668732
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 02:24:08.63437+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:47.765036
License: Public Domain

*583OPINION ON STATE’S MOTION FOR REHEARING
MALONEY, Judge.
We granted the State’s Motion for Rehearing to re-examine our opinion on original submission.1 Our prior opinion is withdrawn.
Appellant was charged by indictment with possession of a controlled substance, heroin, TEX.HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.115(aHb) (Vernon 1990), enhanced by a prior conviction for burglary,2 V.T.C.A. Penal Code, § 12.42(c). The appellant pled guilty and the trial court assessed punishment at twenty (20) years confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division (TDCJID).3 The Fifth Court of Appeals reversed appellant’s conviction as to punishment in a published opinion, Reed v. State, 785 S.W.2d 412 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1990).
Appellant claimed on direct appeal that the trial court erred in overruling his objection to admission of a penitentiary packet from the TDCJID which contained a copy of the judgment and sentence of appellant’s previous conviction for burglary. Appellant argued that the copies of the judgment and sentence were inadmissible because, although they were certified by the custodian of records at the TDCJID, they did not reflect a separate certification by the district clerk of the original convicting court in Dallas County. Based on this Court’s opinion in Dingler v. State, 768 S.W.2d 305 (Tex.Cr.App.1989), the court of appeals held that the pen packet should not have been admitted because the copy of the judgment and sentence contained therein did not reflect certification from the district clerk of the convicting court.
Dingier held that the copy of the judgment and sentence in the pen packet, in order to be admissible as self-authenticated documents), must reflect that the original copy received by TDCJID was certified by the district clerk of the convicting court. See Dingier, supra, at 306. Dingier was predicated upon TEX.REV.CIV.STAT. ANN. art. 3731a4, now repealed, and not *584on the current Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence 901 and 902. The rule of Dingier has been carried forward, however, in cases construing Rules 901 and 902.5
We have reconsidered the Dingier opinion and find that it is no longer valid in light of Rules 901 and 902, is inconsistent with prior Texas case law,6 and is also inconsistent with the federal cases decided under the federal rules of evidence,7 which are the source of Rules 901 and 902 of the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence. Dingier goes the way of former Art. 3731a, § 4, V.A.C.S., now repealed, and is overruled.
In the usual case where this issue arises, there are two separate sets of records of the judgment and sentence — the district clerk of the convicting court retains the originals of the judgment and sentence on file in that court and sends a certified copy to TDCJID which, in turn, retains the certified copies as part of the inmate’s permanent file in the penitentiary. See V.A.C.C.P. art. 42.09 § 8 (Copies of the judgment and sentence are delivered to the Director at the time a convicted defendant is transferred to the TDCJID).8 The district clerk is the legal custodian of the originals on file in the convicting court and *585the records .clerk at TDCJID is the legal custodian of the certified copies on file at the penitentiary. Typically, the State introduces the certified copies contained in the penitentiary file or “pen packet” to prove the prior conviction for enhancement purposes.9
Previously, under Dingier and its construction of Article 3731a, TEX.REV.CIV. STAT.ANN., this Court required that the copies in the pen packet reflect the certification by the clerk of the convicting court in order to be admissible as properly authenticated documents. Dingler, 768 S.W.2d at 306. The problem arises when, as in this case, the copies of the judgment and sentence do not reflect certification by the convicting court clerk, but only by the record clerk at TDCJID.10 The question then is whether Rule 901 or 902 of the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence requires that the custodian who certifies the records must be custodian of the original records, or if certification by the custodian of a set of copies is likewise sufficient.11
Neither Rule 901 nor 902 expressly provides that the certifying custodian of a document may only be the custodian of the original record. Certification by the records custodian as a means of authentication is specifically addressed in Rule 902, which provides that certain types of documents are self-authenticating. Rule 902 states in pertinent part:
Extrinsic evidence of authenticity as a condition precedent to admissibility is not required with respect to the following:
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(4) Certified copies of public records. A copy of an official record ... certified as correct by the custodian or other person authorized to make the certification, by certificate complying with paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of this rule....
Paragraph (2) of the rule provides that a document certified in accordance with paragraph (4), supra, but not under seal, will be self-authenticating if a public officer having a seal certifies that “the signer has the official capacity and that the signature is genuine.” Tex.R.Crim.Evid. 902(2).
The copies of the judgment and sentence in the pen packet in the instant case were certified by the record clerk of the TDCJID in accordance with 902(4). The clerk attested as follows:
That I am the Record Clerk of the Texas Department of Corrections, a penal institution of the State of Texas, situated in the County and State aforesaid. That in my legal Custody as such officer are the original files and records of persons heretofore committed to said institution: that the (x) photograph (x) fingerprints *586and (x) commitments, including judgement and sentence, of Jerry Keith Reed TDC #243306 CAUSE # C74-5767-PH, C73-1115-NH, C74-3908-PH a person heretofore committed to said penal institution and who served a term of imprisonment therein; that I have compared the attached copies with their respective originals now on file in my office and each thereof contains, and is a full, true, and correct transcript and copy from its said original.12
This statement was dated and signed by the record clerk. The record clerk’s certification is then attested by the presiding judge of the county court of Walker County in which the TDCJID is located. In accordance with Rule 902(2), Tex.R.Crim. Evid., the judge certified under seal that the record clerk of TDCJID is the legal custodian of the records and that the signature is genuine. The judge’s certificate is further attested by the county clerk, who certified that the judge was authorized by law to execute the certificate.
In construing the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence, which were patterned after the Federal Rules of Evidence, we are guided by federal cases interpreting the federal rules, although not bound thereby. See C. Miller, Texas Rules of Evidence: Article V. Privileges, 16 VOICE FOR THE DEFENSE 40 (October 1986); S.H. Clinton, Texas Rules of Evidence: Genesis and General Provisions, 16 VOICE FOR THE DEFENSE 26 (October 1986). Federal courts have held that a proper certification by the custodian of records at a state correctional institution is sufficient authentication under Rule 902(4) of a copy of a prior conviction contained in that institution’s files.
In United States v. Darveaux, 830 F.2d 124 (8th Cir.1987), the court held that the record clerk of the TDCJID was legal custodian of the pen packet containing copies of the defendant’s prior conviction, and that the conviction record, certified by the TDCJID record clerk, was therefore self-authenticating in a subsequent prosecution. Likewise, in United States v. Dancy, 861 F.2d 77 (5th Cir.1988), the court held that the documents in the defendant’s pen packet prepared by the California Department of Corrections and certified by the CDC record clerk, including copies of the defendant’s prior criminal judgment and fingerprint card, were self-authenticating in a subsequent prosecution.13 We are persuaded that the rationale of the federal courts on this point is correct and we therefore hold that the TDCJID record clerk’s certification of the pen packet copies of the judgment and sentence constitutes proper authentication in accordance with Rule 902(4) of the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence.
While a document may be properly authenticated under either of Rules 901 or 902, and need not be authenticated under both, we nevertheless address authentication under Rule 901. Rule 901(a) simply sets out the general rule that the requirement of authentication is satisfied by extrinsic evidence that the matter in question is what its proponent claims, without limiting the type of extrinsic evidence which may be used. Rule 901(b) then provides several illustrations of the type of extrinsic evidence which would satisfy the requirement of authentication. One of the illustrations, example (7), specifically addresses “Public records and reports,” and provides that authentication is established by “[evidence that a writing authorized by law to be recorded or filed in a public office, or a purported public record, report, statement, or data compilation, in any form, is from the public office where items of this nature are kept.” Tex.R.Crim.Evid. 901(b)(7).
*587Thus, one means of authenticating a public record under 901 is showing that the document is from a public office authorized to keep such a record. 5 J. Weinstein & M. Berger, Weinstein’s Evidence § 901(b)(7), at 901-98 (1990). In the instant case, it seems clear that TDCJID is authorized to keep the records, given the fact that TDCJID relies on these records as its basis for admitting a prisoner and holding him in custody. The only remaining fact which must be established under 901(b)(7) is that TDCJID is a “public office.” 14 If so, then the records are properly authenticated under 901(b)(7) by virtue of the TDCJID record clerk’s certification that the copies of the judgment and sentence contained in the pen packet are “full, true and correct ... cop[ies].”
However, we need not decide whether TDCJID is a public office, as example (7) is not the only means by which authentication can be accomplished under Rule 901. See, e.g., United States v. Jimenez Lopez, 873 F.2d 769 (5th Cir.) (conclusive proof of authenticity before allowing admission of disputed evidence not required; Rule 901 does not limit type of evidence allowed to authenticate a document, merely requires some evidence sufficient to support a finding that evidence in question is what the proponent claims). The fact that the records are correct copies of those upon which TDCJID relies in admitting and detaining prisoners at the state correctional facility constitutes extrinsic evidence that the records are what the proponent claims them to be. See Tex.R.Crim.Evid. 901(a). Were the copies upon which TDCJID relies fraudulent in some respect, custody of the prisoner would be questionable, if not unlawful. The probabilities are relatively low that the TDCJID records would be false or fraudulent, even though they do originate from another source, the convicting court. See generally 5 Weinstein & Berger, Wein-stein’s Evidence — United States Rules § 901(b)(7)[01] at 901-97 to 901-98 (1983) (presumption of regularity attaches to administration of governmental affairs because falsification of public documents constitutes a breach of duty and, usually, a violation of the law).
The authenticity of the documents is further corroborated by the testimony of the State’s expert witness who stated that the fingerprints from the fingerprint card in the pen packet and the fingerprints taken from the appellant on the morning of the punishment hearing were made by the same individual, the appellant. The opponent of the evidence is always free to challenge authenticity, of course, even under Rule 902. See Fed.R.Evid. 902 advisory committee note (“In no event is the opposite party foreclosed from disputing authenticity.”) We hold that the TDCJID record clerk’s certification of the pen packet copies of the judgment and sentence constitutes sufficient extrinsic evidence that the copies are authentic.
We find that the pen packet in the instant case was sufficiently authenticated in accordance with Rules 901 and 902(4) of the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence and properly admitted into evidence at the punishment phase of appellant’s trial.15 The State’s motion for rehearing is granted, the *588State’s ground for review is sustained, the judgment of the court of appeals is reversed and the judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

. TEX.R.APP.P. 200(c)(1) and (4).

. The indictment charging appellant with possession of heroin contained two enhancement paragraphs. The trial court found the allegations in the first enhancement paragraph to be not true. The trial court found the second enhancement paragraph, which alleged that appellant had been convicted of burglary in 1974, to be true.

. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division (TDCJID) was formerly known as the Texas Department of Corrections (TDC).

. Article 3731a, now repealed, provided in pertinent part:
Section 1. Any written instrument ... made by an officer of this State or of any governmental subdivision thereof, or by his deputy, ... in the performance of the functions of his office and employment shall be, so far as relevant, admitted in the courts of this State as evidence of the matter stated therein, ...
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Section 4. Authentication of Copy Such writings ... may be evidenced ... by a copy or electronic duplication attested by the officer having legal custody of the record, or by his deputy. Except in the case of a copy of an official writing or official electronic recording from a public office of this State or a subdivision thereof, the attestation shall be accompanied with a certificate that the attesting officer has the legal custody of such writing. If the office in which the record is kept is within the United States ..., the certificate may be made by a judge of a court of record of the ... political subdivision in which the record is kept, authenticated by the seal of his office ...
Sec. 6. Other Proof
This rule does not prevent the proof of official records or of entry or lack of entry therein by any method authorized by an applicable statute or by the rules of evidence at common law. (Emphasis added).
TEX.REV.CIV.STAT.ANN. art. 3731a, repealed, effective September 1, 1986 by order of the Court of Criminal Appeals adopting the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence regarding criminal cases. TEX.REV.CIV.STAT.ANN. art. 1811f § 9(a)(3).
Dingier relied on language in Todd v. State, 598 S.W.2d 286 (Tex.Cr.App.1980), as support for the proposition that separate certification by the district clerk of the judgment and sentence is required for authentication, but Todd did not specifically hold this. In Todd, the judgment and sentence had in fact been certified by the district clerk and this Court detailed this point in passing upon the sufficiency of the evidence *584to sustain the enhancement allegation. See Todd, 598 S.W.2d at 291-293. The Court was not faced with the issue of whether omission of the district clerk's certificate would preclude authentication by the TDCJID record clerk.

. See, e.g,, Rodasti v. State, 786 S.W.2d 294 (Tex.Cr.App.1989) (Rodasti II), remanding Rodasti v. State, 749 S.W.2d 161 (Tex.App. — Houston [1st Dist.] 1988) (Rodasti I), resulting in Rodasti v. State, 790 S.W.2d 379 (Tex.App.— Houston [1st Dist.] 1990, pet. filed) (Rodasti III).

. See Johnson v. State, 720 S.W.2d 877 (Tex.App. — Texarkana 1986, no pet.) (admission of pen packet certified by record clerk of TDCJID properly authenticated under former article 3731a, Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat., and admissible over objection that conviction required additional certification from original convicting court); Garza v. State, 705 S.W.2d 818, 820 (Tex.App.— San Antonio 1986, no pet.) (same). See also, Aaron v. State, 546 S.W.2d 277, 278 (Tex.Cr.App.1976) (Louisiana pen packet properly authenticated where certified by the record clerk of Louisiana State Penitentiary and attested by Secretary of State of Louisiana).
For a broader overview of the cases decided under former article 3731a, and the confusion and criticisms engendered after Dingler, supra, see the dissenting opinion filed by Judge Onion in Handspur v. State, 792 S.W.2d 239, 241 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1990, pet. filed). One discrepancy in prior caselaw is that some courts have held the entire pen packet inadmissible under the Dingier rationale while others have held only the uncertified copies of the judgment and sentence inadmissible. See and cf. Henderson v. State, 788 S.W.2d 621 (Tex.App. — Houston [14th Dist.] 1990, pet. pending) and King v. State, 790 S.W.2d 678 (Tex.App. — Tyler 1989, pet. pending on other grounds). Our holding in the instant case is that certification by the record custodian of the pen packet to the effect that a document or documents therein are true and correct copies of the original or original copies on file with the custodian, will provide sufficient authentication for admission of the document or documents.

. See United States v. Darveaux, 830 F.2d 124, 125 (8th Cir.1987) (copy of prior conviction in TDCJID pen packet was properly authenticated by the TDCJID record clerk, in accordance with Federal Rule of Evidence 902(4)); United States v. Dancy, 861 F.2d 77, 79-80 (5th Cir.1982) (copy of prior conviction in pen packet from California Department of Corrections properly authenticated under Rule 902(4) where certified by record clerk of CDC). Both cases are discussed in the text, infra.

. Article 42.09 § 8 sets out in pertinent part:
Section 8.
(a) A county that transfers a defendant under this Article shall deliver to the director of the department:
(1) a copy of the judgment entered ...
(8) a copy of the indictment or information for each offense ...
(b) The Department of Corrections shall not take a defendant into custody under this Article until the director receives the documents required by Subsections (a) and (c) of this section ... (emphasis added).
As the dissent points out, section 8 of Article 42.09 was not enacted at the time of Reed’s commitment in 1974. In the 1974 version, a defendant was to be delivered to jail or to the Department of Corrections on the basis of a “commitment.” The term "commitment” has long been treated by the courts as synonymous with judgments and sentences. See, e.g., Todd v. State, 598 S.W.2d 286, 292 (Tex.Cr.App.1980) (the term "commitment” includes judgments and sentences) and citations therein; Ex parte Collier, 156 Tex.Cr.R. 377, 243 S.W.2d 177 (1951) ("the sentence is a final judgment ... [that] should further convey to the penitentiary authorities clear and unequivocal orders of the trial court so that they may know definitely how long to detain the convict”); Shrader v. State, 30 Tex. 386 (1867) (the order of the court is itself a mittimus).

. This is but one method employed by the State as a means of proving up a prior conviction. For a delineation of other methods analyzed in the caselaw, see the dissenting opinion filed by Judge Onion in Handspur v. State, 792 S.W.2d 239, 241 (Tex.App. — Dallas 1990, pet. filed).

. Apparently, the problem with respect to omission of the convicting court clerk’s certificate is that, sometimes when the TDCJID custodian of records copies the sentence and judgment for pen packet purposes, only the face of the documents are photocopied, even though the certification by the clerk typically appears on the back of the documents. The result is a lack of a showing of the convicting court clerk's certification. See Henderson v. State, 788 S.W.2d 621, 623 (Tex.App. — Houston [14th Dist.] 1990, pet. filed). All that remains is the certification by the TDCJID records clerk, and accompanying attestations thereto.

. Although authentication is but one possible evidentiary hurdle for admission of a document into evidence, the only objection lodged by the appellant at trial was that of improper authentication. The question of the “best evidence” or requirement of the original, covered in Article X of the Texas Rules of Criminal Evidence, was not raised in the instant case. “Presentation of any document as evidence potentially presents at least three issues: authentication, best evidence, and hearsay ... Rule 901(b)(7) treats only [authentication] ... [t]he best evidence problem is treated in Rule 1005, and the hearsay problem is treated in Rules 803(8)-(10), (14), and (22)-(23)." (footnotes omitted). See 33 S. Goode, O. Wellborn, & M. Sharlot, Texas Practice — Guide to the Texas Rules of Evidence: Civil and Criminal § 901.9 (1988).
However, Rule 1005 provides that a copy of a public record will be admissible in place of the original where the copy is certified in accordance with Rule 902. See Tex.R.Crim.Evid. 1005. Since our holding today is that the copies of the judgment and sentence certified by the TDCJID record clerk comply with Rule 902(4), ipso fac-to, the copies are receivable into evidence in lieu of the original under Rule 1005.

. Only Cause # C74-5767-PH was used for enhancement purposes. One of the prior convictions alleged by the State was found to be not true after the defense objected based on the fact that there was no written waiver in the court’s jacket although the judgment on its face recited a waiver.

. The court in Dancy rejected the defendant's argument that the pen packet from the California Department of Corrections was not recorded or filed in a "public office” because Rule 902(4) does not require that "official records” must be recorded or filed in a public office to be self-authenticating. Dancy, 861 F.2d at 79. Thus, the court did not address the issue of whether CDC is a “public office.”

. The dissent is concerned about the "public office” status of the TDCJID. Although we have found no case which specifically holds that TDCJID is a public office, the records of correctional institutions have been held to be "official records” or “public records.” See United States v. Locke, 425 F.2d 313 (5th Cir.1970); see also 5 J. Weinstein & M. Berger, Weinstein’s Evidence § 901(b)(7)(01), at 901-100 (1990) (correctional institution records Eire public records). An official record does not have to be available to the public. The Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Evidence had the opportunity to strike "official record” and substitute "a record kept in a public office and available to public inspection" but did not choose to do so. 5 Weinstein & Berger, Weinstein’s Evidence — United States Rules at 1005-10 (1983). See Banco de Espana v. Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 114 F.2d 438, 446 (2d Cir.1940) (faith in certified copies of official records based on assumption that oath and certificate of custodian reasonably reliable). But see Amoco Production Co. v. United States, 619 F.2d 1383 (10th Cir.1980) (mere fact that document is kept by governmental agency does not automatically qualify it as public record for purpose of authentication).

. This opinion goes only to the admissibility of the evidence as properly authenticated, not to the weight to be given it.