As provided in 28 U.S.C. § 753, each district court shall appoint one or more salaried court reporters who shall attend each session and record verbatim all proceedings in open court, and all other proceedings as specified by statute, rule, order of the court, or as requested by any party to the proceedings. EOUSA’s interpretation of the statute requires that every word in criminal proceedings be recorded, including closing arguments. It is suggested that, in districts where it is not the practice to record proceedings in full, application should be made to the court to take corrective measures insuring compliance with the statute.

The salaried reporter is entitled to receive, in addition to salary, such fees for transcripts as may be prescribed from time to time by the court with the approval of the Judicial Conference. These fees are collectible from the parties, including the United States. The Department of Justice is not financially responsible for any part of a transcript furnished to: the court; opponent counsel; to persons proceeding in forma pauperis; nor for the reporter’s travel expenses except that, on approval of the court, the cost of the original and copies may be apportioned among the persons to whom they are furnished. If the government requires daily transcripts, any additional expenses involved in providing more rapid delivery must be borne by the reporter. The only exception to this is in rural areas, where the court reporter may need to hire reporters from outside the community area to help produce hourly, daily, or expedited transcripts. In such instances, the reporter may bill the ordering party for the subsistence costs of other reporters or auxiliary personnel. The costs are authorized up to the amount of travel subsistence that a government employee may be reimbursed for the same travel. An attendance fee for auxiliary personnel is not billable to the ordering party.

[updated February 2018]