N.D.R.Crim.P.
RULE 27. PROOF OF OFFICIAL RECORD
An A party may prove an official record or , an entry therein in such a record, or the lack of such a record or entry may be proved in the same manner as in a civil actions action.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Rule 27 was amended, effective _______________.
Rule 27 follows the Federal Rule and is identical to the Delaware and the Colorado Rules of Criminal Procedure Fed.R.Crim.P. 27. The Rule 27 incorporates by reference N.D.R.Civ.P. 44 (as amended in 1971), in which there is provided a simple and uniform method of proving the authenticity of public records, both domestic and foreign, and entry or lack of entry therein in a record. Accordingly, decisions on proof of official records in civil cases are authoritative in criminal cases.
It should be emphasized that this Rule 27 is not the exclusive means of proving official records or lack of entry therein in a record. N.D.R.Civ.P. 44(c) (which Rule 27 incorporates by reference) provides that such proof may be made "by any other method authorized by law." Thus the proof of the lack of a record under this Rule 27 would be in accordance with the provisions of Rule 44(b).
Rule 27 was amended, effective ______________, in response to the December 1, 2002, revision of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. The language and organization of the rule were changed to make the rule more easily understood and to make style and terminology consistent throughout the rules.
SOURCES: Joint Procedure Committee Minutes of ____________, pages____; October 17-20, 1972, pages 30-32; December 11-12, 1968, page 15; 18 U.S.C.A., Fed.R.Crim.P. 27, page 559; Wright, Federal Practice and Procedure: Criminal, § 441 (1969); 8 Moore's Federal Practice, Chapter 27 (Cipes, 2d Ed. 1970).
STATUTES AFFECTED:
CONSIDERED: N.D.C.C. ch. 31-09.
CROSS REFERENCE: N.D.R.Civ.P. 44 (Proof of Official Record); N.D.R.Civ.P. 44.1 (Determination of Foreign Law).