Legal Definitions - transcript

A transcript is a complete, word-for-word written record of spoken words from an official proceeding, such as a court hearing, deposition, or administrative meeting. It is typically prepared by a professional stenographer or court reporter who captures every spoken word, question, answer, and ruling, ensuring an accurate and impartial account of what occurred. Transcripts serve as crucial official documents for review, appeal, or reference in legal and administrative contexts.

• Example 1: Appealing a Court Decision
  Imagine a person is found liable in a civil lawsuit and believes the judge made a significant legal error during the trial. To appeal the decision to a higher court, their attorney must order a full transcript of the trial proceedings. This document will contain every word spoken by the witnesses, attorneys, and the judge, including all objections, arguments, and rulings. The appellate court will then review this detailed written record to determine if any legal mistakes occurred that warrant overturning the original judgment.

  This example illustrates how a transcript provides the exact, official record of a trial, allowing higher courts to meticulously review the lower court's actions and spoken exchanges.

• Example 2: Recording Witness Testimony Before Trial
  In a complex business dispute, attorneys might need to question key witnesses under oath before the actual trial begins. This process is called a "deposition." During a deposition, a court reporter is present to create a verbatim transcript of all questions posed to the witness and every answer provided. This written record becomes an official document that can be used later in court to challenge a witness's memory, highlight inconsistencies in their testimony, or even be presented as evidence if the witness is unavailable to testify at trial.

  This demonstrates how a transcript captures sworn testimony outside of a courtroom, creating a reliable and permanent written record of what was said by a witness.

• Example 3: Administrative Hearing for a Professional License
  Consider a situation where a licensed architect faces a hearing before a state professional licensing board due to allegations of negligence. During this administrative hearing, a stenographer records all testimony from witnesses, arguments made by the attorneys, and the board members' deliberations and final decision. The resulting transcript serves as the official record of the entire proceeding. If the architect wishes to appeal the board's decision to a state court, this transcript will be the primary document reviewed to ensure that due process was followed and that the board's decision was supported by the evidence presented during the hearing.

  This example shows a transcript being used in a non-courtroom, administrative setting, where it still functions as the definitive written record of spoken events for potential legal review.