Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:511 – Court reporters, retention and destruction of notes and recordings of criminal cases
Terms Used In Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:511
- Court reporter: A person who makes a word-for-word record of what is said in court and produces a transcript of the proceedings upon request.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
A. The court reporter shall retain indefinitely all notes and tape 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 tape 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 tape recordings. The court reporter shall destroy any notes and tape recordings of any matter upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
B. The notes and tape recordings of any criminal case which are retained by a court reporter pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be the property of the court in which the case was heard. The court reporter shall have the duty to retain and maintain all such notes and tape recordings pursuant to the provisions of this Section, although the notes and tape recordings shall remain the property of the court.
Acts 1986, No. 546, §1.