The 1,200-Page Appeal Transcript With Conflicting Format Requests
A Nevada court reporter is asked to prepare a 1,200-page trial transcript after a civil jury verdict. The notice of appeal has been filed, and the appellant’s request states that the transcript is due in 30 days. The appellant’s attorney asks for a condensed transcript with four pages per sheet and an ASCII disk; the appellee’s attorney asks for a standard transcript with 25 lines per page and a separate keyword index. The court’s administrative order requires appeal transcripts to follow the Nevada Supreme Court’s format rules, including page numbering and a certificate. The transcript contains a juror’s home address and a victim’s address that were spoken in open court; no protective order has been entered. The reporter has 14 other transcripts due in the same period and doubts she can finish in 30 days. She has already received a $3,000 deposit.
1. Which format requests control, and how should the reporter handle the conflicting demands?
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The official appeal transcript must be produced in the format required by the Nevada Supreme Court’s rules and the administrative order, not whatever format a party prefers. If the appellant wants a condensed four-up copy and ASCII disk, those are additional copies or formats; the reporter can provide them if the court allows and the fee is arranged, but they do not replace the official transcript. The appellee’s request for 25 lines and a keyword index is also an additional feature request. If the requests conflict with the court’s format rules, the reporter should ask the clerk or the court for clarification in writing and follow the court’s direction. Do not produce two inconsistent “originals.”
2. What should the reporter do about the 30-day deadline and the 14 other transcripts?
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The 30-day date in the request is a real deadline. If 1,200 pages plus 14 other transcripts cannot be completed with reasonable diligence, the reporter should immediately notify the requesting party and the court and seek an extension before the deadline, not after. Provide a realistic schedule, state what has been completed, and prioritize the appeal transcript. Keep copies of the request, notices, and extension order. A silent late filing is worse than a timely request for relief. The reporter should also consider whether additional qualified transcription help can be used without compromising confidentiality or certification responsibility.
3. Should the reporter redact the juror’s address and the victim’s address from the transcript?
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Do not unilaterally redact the addresses just because they are sensitive. The transcript should usually reflect what was said in open court. However, the reporter should flag the addresses to the judge and ask whether a protective order or sealing order applies. If the court orders redaction or sealing, follow the order and note it in the transcript or certificate. If no order exists, transcribe verbatim and let the court decide; the reporter is not the privacy officer. Self-help redaction could create an inaccurate record and violate the court’s format rules.