In Re Shannon C.

Timothy F. Cahill, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Objector and Appellant.

L.B. Elam, County Counsel, and Clement J. Dougherty, Jr., Deputy County Counsel, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

Gerald L. Kossow for Intervener and Respondent.

Joseph Russell, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Minor.

OPINION

SIMS, J.

In this case we hold that Evidence Code section 1530 does not authorize the admission in evidence of a copy of a writing in the custody of a public entity to prove the truth of the matter stated in the writing.

Raymond C., Jr., the father of Shannon C. and on active duty with the U.S. Navy, appeals from the trial court's judgment [1] declaring Shannon free from Raymond's custody and control and appointing a guardian for her pursuant to Civil Code section 232, subdivision (a)(7). [2] Raymond contends, inter alia, the trial court committed reversible error when it admitted in evidence United States Naval records allegedly documenting the whereabouts of his ship during times crucial to his reunification with Shannon. Because we agree with this contention, we reverse the judgment on this ground and do not address Raymond's remaining…