You are here

Transcript Information

General Information
 
 

The Judicial Conference adopted a policy to include official transcripts of court proceedings in electronic case files. After the filing of a transcript with the court, it may be viewed (but not printed) in CM/ECF at a public terminal at the court. Any other access to the document by non-court users is prevented for 90 days. However, as of implementation of CM/ECF 3.2, a user may pay the transcript fee to the court reporter/transcriber to gain access to the document via PACER (with PACER charges applying). The court reporter/transcriber will grant permission to such a user via the "Document Access Panel" (described below). PACER charges apply to the full transcript.

Within 21 days of a transcript being filed, parties must file with the court a Statement of transcript redaction, form BTXN202, listing the items to be redacted, citing the transcript's docket number, the item's location by page and line, and including only the following portions of the protected information:

            • the last four digits of the social security number or taxpayer identification number;
            • the year of the individual's birth;
            • the minor's initials; and
            • the last four digits of the financial account number.

The Statement of transcript redaction event is a private event. The PDF will only be available to court users. The attorney must notify the court reporter/ transcriber, who must then file a redacted transcript within 31 days of the date the original transcript was filed. The redacted version will become available after the 90-day restriction period, and the original unredacted version will remain restricted except to those who have purchased it or are using a public terminal.

Any additional redaction requires a separate motion for protective order and proposed order, also required within 21 days of a transcript being filed, and Court approval. A motion for protective order is a publicly filed document. If it contains information that should be sealed, the filer must file a motion to seal.

Under Judicial Conference Policy, effective May 15, 2008, parties will be responsible for redacting from transcripts filed with the Court, information protected by the E-Government Act of 2002, Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2(a). The court may remove restrictions on the transcript document (from the redacted version, if one exists, or the original transcript) via the Document Access Panel after the 90-day period.

The court reporter/transcriber will give permission to an attorney that has paid for a transcript to access the transcript in PACER.

A party may review the transcript at the Clerk's Office public terminals or purchase it by following the instructions on our website by clicking on Transcripts and Tape Orders under the Clerk's Office menu, or by calling 214-753-2000. A party is only responsible for reviewing the:

            • opening and closing statements made on the party's behalf; statements of the party;
            • testimony of any witness called by the party; and
            • any other portion of the transcript as ordered by the court.

NOTE:  Redaction is the attorney's responsibility. The Clerk, court reporter, or transcriber will not review this transcript for compliance.