PART XII. COURT REPORTERS, NOTES AND RECORDINGS

§511. Court reporters; retention and destruction of notes and recordings of criminal cases

            A. The court reporter shall retain indefinitely all notes and audio recordings of a criminal case. However, if the record of the trial or other criminal proceeding is fully transcribed, the court reporter shall retain all notes and audio recordings which have been fully transcribed for a period of not less than two years after transcription is completed. In criminal cases where all defendants are acquitted, the court reporter need not retain the notes and audio recordings. Retention of the tape and audio recordings are subject to the storage provisions provided in Subsection B of this Section. The court reporter shall destroy any notes and audio recordings of any matter upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

            B. The notes and audio recordings of any criminal case which are retained by a court reporter pursuant to the provisions of this Section are the property of the court in which the case was heard. The court retains ownership of the recordings and notes, and if a court reporter retires or leaves the employment of the court, all notes, audio recordings, and other records of court proceedings shall remain in the custody and control of the court and be retained pursuant to applicable retention statutes and the provisions of this Section.

            Acts 1986, No. 546, §1; Acts 2026, No. 60, §1.