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We have compared what purports to be petitioner’s signatures
on many of the checks, the time reports, and the letter of
resignation to petitioner’s signatures on her petition and other
documents submitted to this Court. We find that those signatures
are identical in all respects, and those items are authenticated
pursuant to the general provisions of Fed. R. Evid. 901.
Checks are self-authenticating documents under Fed. R. Evid.
902(9).9 United States v. Hawkins, 905 F.2d 1489, 1494 (11th
Cir. 1990); United States v. Little, 567 F.2d 346 n.1 (8th Cir.
1977). The copies of checks respondent introduced are not
hearsay or, alternatively, are covered by exceptions to the
hearsay rule. A check is a negotiable instrument, a legally
operative document, and falls within the category of “verbal
acts” which are excludable from the hearsay rule. See Advisory
Committee’s Note to Fed. R. Evid. 801(c). The checks or any
notations thereon may also qualify as a statement in documents
affecting an interest in property under Fed. R. Evid. 803(15).
With respect to the other documents that contain petitioner’s
signature, those documents are not hearsay. See Fed. R. Evid.
9Under Fed. R. Evid. 902(9), extrinsic evidence of
authenticity as a condition precedent to admissibility is not
required with respect to commercial paper, signatures thereon,
and documents relating thereto to the extent provided by general
commercial law.
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