Educational guide

California Civil Court Reporter Checklist

A practical general-information checklist for checking whether a court reporter will be available for a California civil hearing or trial, based on California Rule of Court 2.956 and official form FW-020. It is not individualized legal advice and does not determine transcript, appeal or filing deadlines.

1. Check the assigned superior court's current court-reporter policy as early as possible. Rule 2.956 requires each trial court to identify the departments and types of matters in which official reporting services are normally available or unavailable.
2. Review the hearing notice, department calendar and local rules. For a civil law-and-motion or other nontrial matter, the court calendar should note when an official reporter will not be available, but local instructions may also explain requests, reservations or approved private reporters.
3. For a civil trial, determine whether the court requires a pretrial statement requesting an official reporter. Rule 2.956 says courts must require that statement unless their policy provides official reporters in all trial courtrooms.
4. If the clerk reports that no official reporter will be available, decide promptly whether to arrange a certified shorthand reporter to serve as an official reporter pro tempore. Confirm the assigned court's appointment, paperwork and check-in requirements before hiring or appearing with a private reporter.
5. Understand who pays. A party arranging a private certified shorthand reporter is generally responsible for the attendance fee, although recoverability as a litigation cost is a separate legal question that depends on applicable law and the case result.
6. If a fee waiver has been granted and the court is not electronically recording the proceeding, review rule 2.956(c) and Request for Court Reporter by Party with a Fee Waiver, form FW-020. The official rule says the request should generally be filed 10 calendar days before the proceeding, or as soon as practicable when less notice was given.
7. Confirm that any reporter is properly qualified and accepted by the court. Keep the court's response, the reporter's contact information, any appointment order and records showing which portions of the proceeding were reported.
8. After the proceeding, ask the reporter or court clerk about ordering a transcript and the applicable cost and procedure. Do not assume that having a reporter automatically creates or files a transcript, and seek qualified legal help promptly when a record may be needed for an objection, review or appeal.

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