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Minimum Transcript Format Standards
The Court Reporters Board of
California
hereby adopts its regulations in
Division 24 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations. January, 2000.
Adopt section 2473 to read as follows:
2473.
Minimum Transcript Format Standards.
(a)
A reporter licensed under Chapter 13, Division 3 of the Code shall comply with
the following transcript format standards when producing a transcript in a
legal proceeding. If a reporter is employed by a court, either as an official
or pro tem official reporter, the transcript format set forth by state or
local rules of court, or adopted by that jurisdiction, if any, will supercede.
If there are no transcript format guidelines established within a
jurisdiction, the following minimum transcript format standards shall apply:
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No fewer than 25 typed text lines per page;
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A full line of text shall be no less than 56 characters unless timestamping is used, in which case no fewer than 52 characters shall be used
on a full line of text;
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Left-hand margin is defined as the first character of a line of text;
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Each question and answer is to begin on a separate line;
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Text is to begin no more than 10 spaces from the left-hand margin with
carry-over colloquy to the left-hand margin including "Q" and
"A" Symbols;
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Carry-over "Q" and "A" lines to begin at the left-hand
margin;
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Colloquy and paragraphed material to begin no more than 10 spaces from the
left-hand margin with carry-over colloquy to the left-hand margin;
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Quoted material to begin no more than 14 spaces from the left-hand margin
with carry-over lines to begin no more than 10 spaces from the left-hand
margin;
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Parenthetical and exhibit markings of two lines or more shall be no less
than 35 characters per line; and
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In colloquy, text shall begin no more than two spaces after the colon
following speaker "ID."
(b)
Failure to comply with these minimum standards, as noted above, constitutes
grounds for disciplinary action.
NOTE:
Authority cited: Sections 8007, 8008 and 8025, Business and Professions Code;
Reference: Section 8025, Business and Professions Code, Section 11425.50(e);
Government Code.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Minimum
Transcript Format Standards
Q.
What is the effective date of these regulations? Will they apply to
depositions I've taken prior to the date even though I haven't transcribed
them yet? What about copies orders after February 10, 2000?
A.
The effective date of the Minimum Transcript Format Standards was
February 10, 2000. These regulations only affect transcripts that are
initially transcribed on or after February 10, 2000. Any copies
requested for transcripts that were prepared prior to the new guidelines
should remain in the format used for the original transcript.
Q.
In reference to (5), what space does my Q/A symbol need to start? Also, am I
required to use a period after the Q/A?
A.
The Q and A symbol must precede the first character of text. Text must begin
no more than 10 spaces from the left-hand margin (i.e., first character of
text shall begin on the 10th space, not the 11th). The use of a period (after
a Q/A) is a matter of style and is not addressed in the regulation.
Q.
What about the appearance, index and certificate pages? How about datelines
and witness setups? What about rough-draft transcripts? Do these standards
apply to those areas as well?
A.
No. If a particular item is not specifically addressed in the Minimum
Transcript Format Standard, you are free to continue to prepare it as you
always have in the past.
Q.
My agency formats my transcripts. I really don't know what it looks like after
I submit my ASCII to them. Am I responsible if I don't have control over what
the agency prints out as my final work product?
A.
You are absolutely responsible to meet these guidelines as you are the
licensee that is certifying the transcript. If the Board receives a complaint
regarding this issue, you are the one that will have to address the complaint
- not your firm. If you are a licensee that sends your transcripts
electronically to a firm, you should seriously consider using a digital
signature. The digital signature will be voided if the format (or anything
else for that matter) is changed.
Q.
Are these standards in stone, or is it possible there will be amendments?
A.
For now, they are in "stone." However, regulations can always be
amended. Other than nonsubstantial changes (i.e., typo, name change), the
public must be notified of any potential changes to the regulations and be
given sufficient time (45 days) to oppose or support the amendment. If
you would like to be on the Court Reporters Board's mailing list for future
regulatory change, please contact their office and request to be on their
mailing list for notices.
Click here for a PDF STANDARD TRANSCRIPT FORMAT EXAMPLE, or if you would like to receive a faxed sample page from CCRA, showing the
STANDARD TRANSCRIPT FORMAT EXAMPLE, e-mail your request to
lesia@quik.com.
Please include your fax number.
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