Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Rule 4007 - Requests for Transcripts(a) All requests for transcripts shall be set forth on a standardized form provided by the Court Administrator or a form prepared by the judicial district and approved by the Court Administrator. The form shall indicate the current rates authorized to be charged for transcripts under these rules.(b) For an ordinary transcript, the party requesting a full or partial transcript of a trial or other proceeding shall file the original request with the district court administrator or other appropriate filing office of the court. The requesting party shall also serve copies of the formal request to: (1) the judge presiding over the matter;(2) the court reporter, court recorder, or transcriptionist;(3) the district court administrator or the district court administrator's designee (if not filed with the district court administrator); and(4) opposing counsel, but if not represented, the opposing party. The provisions of subdivision (b) do not apply to requests by the Judicial Conduct Board.
(c) In courts where daily, expedited, or same day transcripts are available, requests for these transcripts shall be made as provided for in local rule. In the event of an emergency, a party may request by oral motion a daily, expedited, or same day transcript.(d) When a party requests a transcript: (1) The party ordering a transcript shall make partial payment in an amount established by local rule. Deposit checks are to be made payable to the judicial district or county, as set by local rule, and shall be delivered to the district court administrator or other court designee. If the requesting party fails to make the partial payment within 45 days of the filing of the request, the request shall be deemed withdrawn.(2) The court reporter or transcriptionist shall prepare the transcript upon direction of the court's designee.(3) The court reporter, court recorder, or transcriptionist shall notify the ordering party and the court's designee of the completion of the transcript and deliver a copy of the transcript to the judge presiding over the matter.(4) Upon payment of any balance owed, the court reporter, court recorder, or transcriptionist shall deliver the original transcript to the appropriate filing office and copies to the parties. Checks for the final balance are to be made payable to the judicial district or county, as set by local rule, and shall be delivered to the district court administrator or other court designee.(e) When a party requests a transcript, but cannot pay for the transcript because of alleged economic hardship, the court shall determine economic hardship pursuant to the procedure set forth in Rule 4008(B). In cases of economic hardship, where the matter is under appeal or a transcript is necessary to advance the litigation, the costs of procuring the transcript shall be waived or otherwise adjusted by the court. In cases of economic hardship where there is no appeal pending or there exists no obvious need for the transcript to advance the litigation, the requesting party must demonstrate reasonable need before the court shall waive or adjust the cost of obtaining the transcript.(f) When a transcript is requested for which the court or county is responsible for the cost, the court reporter, court recorder, or transcriptionist shall prepare the transcript without the necessity of a deposit.The provisions of this Rule 4007 amended May 25, 2018, effective 7/1/2018, 48 Pa.B. 3403; amended December 12, 2019, effective immediately, 49 Pa.B. 7570.Amended by Pennsylvania Bulletin, Vol 53, No. 31. August 5, 2023, effective 8/5/2023