Rule 16-503 - [Effective 1/1/2025] In Circuit Court(a) Proceedings to be Recorded.(1)Proceedings in the Presence of Judge. All trials, hearings, testimony, and other judicial proceedings before a circuit court judge held either in a courtroom or by remote electronic means shall be recorded verbatim in their entirety by a person authorized by the court to do so, except that, unless otherwise ordered by the court, the person responsible for recording need not report or separately record an audio or audio-video recording offered as evidence at a hearing or trial. Committee note: An audio or audio-video recording offered at a hearing or trial must be marked for identification and made part of the record, so that it is available for future transcription. See Rules 2-516(b)(1)(A) and 4-322(c)(1)(A). Section (a) does not apply to ADR proceedings conducted pursuant to Rule 9-205 or Title 17 of these Rules.
(2)Proceedings Before Magistrate, Examiner, or Auditor. Proceedings before a magistrate, examiner, or auditor shall be recorded verbatim in their entirety, except that: (A) the recording of proceedings before a magistrate may be waived in accordance with Rules 2-541(d)(3) or 9-208(c)(3);(B) the recording of proceedings before an examiner may be waived in accordance with Rule 2-542(d)(4); and(C) the recording of proceedings before an auditor may be waived in accordance with Rule 2-543(d)(3). (3) Court Interpreters If a proceeding involves an individual who needs an interpreter, only consecutive interpretation shall be subject to subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this Rule. To the extent that simultaneous interpretation is captured by the audio recording device provided by the court, it is not part of the record of the proceeding.
Cross reference: For definitions of "individual who needs an interpreter," "consecutive interpretation," and "simultaneous interpretation," see Rule 1-333 (a).
(b) Method of Recording. Proceedings may be recorded by any reliable method or combination of methods approved by the County Administrative Judge. If proceedings are recorded by a combination of methods, the County Administrative Judge shall determine which method shall be used to prepare a transcript.(c)Official Recordings Except for extended coverage of court proceedings permitted under Title 16, Chapter 600 of these Rules, only official recordings of judicial proceedings in a circuit court made in accordance with this Rule are permitted. This Rule is derived in part from former Rule 16-404(2016). Section (c) is new.
Adopted June 6, 2016, eff. 7/1/2016; amended June 17, 2020, eff. 7/1/2020; amended April 21, 2023, eff. 7/1/2023; amended September 22, 2023, eff. 1/1/2024; amended Oct. 15, 2024, eff. 1/1/2025.