Rule 1005 Federal Rules of Evidence

Rule 1005 of the Federal Rules of Evidence is about Copies of Public Records to Prove Content. It is under Article X (Contents of Writings, Recordings, and Photographs) of the Rules.

The proponent may use a copy to prove the content of an official record — or of a document that was recorded or filed in a public office as authorized by law — if these conditions are met: the record or document is otherwise admissible; and the copy is certified as correct in accordance with Rule 902(4) or is testified to be correct by a witness who has compared it with the original. If no such copy can be obtained by reasonable diligence, then the proponent may use other evidence to prove the content.