SAN DIEGO – CHANGES TO POLICY REGARDING NORMAL AVAILABILITY AND UNAVAILABILITY OF OFFICIAL COURT REPORTERS

Effective March 25, 2019, the San Diego Superior Court’s policy regarding the normal availability and unavailability of official court reporters is as follows:

Official court reporters are normally available in felony criminal cases and juvenile matters during regular court hours. Official court reporters are not normally available in civil matters, family law matters (with the exception of Family Support Division (FSD) matters and contempt hearings), or in probate matters.

The San Diego Superior Court provides electronic recording services in infraction and misdemeanor proceedings. The court may electronically record limited civil proceedings, including unlawful detainers, collections, and small claims, if recording equipment is available.

A party who has been granted a waiver of court fees and costs may request the services of an official court reporter for a proceeding for which a reporter is not normally available and for which electronic recording is not provided (see above). Such a request should be made using the Request for Court Reporter by a Party with a Fee Waiver form (SDSC Form #ADM-379), available on the court’s website, and must be filed with the clerk at least 10 days before the proceeding, or at the time the proceeding is scheduled, if less than 10 days away. Failure to comply with this request procedure may result in the court being unable to provide a court reporter or a continuance of the hearing. Party(ies) to the case who do not qualify for a waiver of court fees and costs will be responsible for a pro rata share of the fees.

Note: The court is not obligated to provide court reporter transcripts free of charge to a party who has been granted a waiver of court fees and costs. (See Jameson v. Desta (2018) 5 Cal.5th 594, 623-625.) Assistance may be available through the Transcript Reimbursement Fund. Further information is available on the California Court Reporters Board’s website.

Additional information regarding the court’s policy and requirements for requesting a court reporter will be available on the San Diego Superior Court’s website at www.sdcourt.ca.gov on March 25, 2019.

http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/SDCOURT/GENERALINFORMATION/NEWS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/2019-3-22%2C%20PUBLIC%20NOTICE%2C%20CHANGES%20TO%20POLICY%20REGARDING%20COURT%20REPORTERS.PDF

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