Authentication of Text Messages and Emails Addressed by Superior Court

In the case of Walker v. Walker, No. 787 WDA 2023 (Pa. Super. Aug. 9, 2024 Dubow, J., Kunselman, J., and Nichols, J.) (Op. by Dubow, J.), which involved a criminal court case, the Pennsylvania Superior Court found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting text message and emails into evidence after a finding that those messages were sufficiently authenticated by the testimony of a witness.

The appellate court found that the trial court did not abuse its discretion and had properly applied Pa.R.E. 901 which Rule of Evidence governs the authentication of evidence.

Anyone wishing to review a copy of this decision may click this LINK.

Although this is a criminal court case, the rationale of the court regarding the admissibility of text messages and social media would likely equally apply in a civil litigation context.


Source “The Legal Intelligencer State Appellate Case Alert” www.Law.com (Aug. 27, 2024).