Text Messages Must Be Authenticated By Evidence Corroborating Who Wrote Them

The Nevada Supreme Court held April 5 that the admission of text messages at trial, if challenged, requires the proponent to produce evidence of authorship. (Rodriguez v. State, Nev., No. 56413)

On a separate issue, the court held that testimony that DNA evidence does not exclude the accused as the perpetrator is admissible without accompanying evidence indicating the statistical significance of the finding.

The defendant in this case was tried in connection with an attack on a woman in her home. The victim’s cellphone was stolen, and on the night of the crime her boyfriend received taunting text ...