The Supreme Court of South Carolina

Re:  Request to Engage a Non-SC Judicial Branch Court Reporter

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

Pursuant to the provisions of Article V, Section 4 of the South Carolina Constitution,

IT IS ORDERED that the following procedures shall be followed to request the use of a non-South Carolina Judicial Branch court reporter to record proceedings in the circuit or family courts. 

The party requesting to use a non-SC Judicial Branch court reporter shall submit a written request to South Carolina Court Administration (Court Administration) using form SCCA 801A – Request to Engage A Non-SC Judicial Branch Court Reporter.  The written request shall include confirmation that both parties consent to the use of a non-SC Judicial Branch court reporter and at least one of the following

a. A court reporter or court monitor employed by the South Carolina Judicial Branch is unable to render the particular service required.

b. The hearing is outside of regularly scheduled terms of court.

Upon receipt of the written request, Court Administration shall review the request and forward it to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina for his consideration. 

Upon notification of approval from Court Administration, the judge assigned to the proceedings shall require the party engaging the non-SC Judicial Branch court reporter and the non-SC Judicial Branch court reporter (or company designee) to sign form SCCA 801B – Non-SC Judicial Branch Court Reporter Agreement, which must include the following information:

a. The terms of the contract, page rate, and the name of the attorney(s) or party(ies) responsible for the fees charged for the non-SC Judicial Branch court reporting services.

b. If a transcript is separately contracted for, the rate charged for the production of a transcript of the proceeding will not exceed the rate found in Rule 607, SCACR and will be produced according to Rule 607, SCACR.

c. A statement that any violations of the Non-SC Judicial Branch Court Reporter Agreement are punishable by contempt of court. 

d. A  SC Judicial Branch court reporter or court monitor is unable to render the services requested and/or the hearing is outside of regularly scheduled terms of court.

e. That the record captured by the non-SC Judicial Branch court reporter is the property of the South Carolina Judicial Branch.

f. That the record, which includes the non-SC Judicial Branch court reporter’s notes, backup audio recording, and prepared transcript, if ordered, must be delivered to Court Administration within 60 days of the conclusion of the proceedings. 

Columbia, South Carolina
July 8, 2019