Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 46 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL STANDARDS
Part XXI - Certified Shorthand Reporters
Chapter 11 - Court Reporting Procedures
Section XXI-1101 - Transcript Format Guidelines (Freelance Reporters)

Universal Citation: LA Admin Code XXI-1101

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

A. Every freelance certified reporter shall use the following transcript format rules on every deposition transcript prepared by that reporter.

1. Transcripts shall contain no fewer than 25 typed lines on standard 8 1/2 x 11 paper exclusive of page numbers and footers.

2. Transcripts shall contain no fewer than eight characters to the typed inch.

3. The distance between the left and right margins shall be no less than 6 3/8 inches.

4. Each question and answer shall begin on a separate line.

5. Either of the following may be used.
a. Each question and answer shall begin no more than five spaces from the left-hand margin. The text shall begin no more than five spaces following the question and answer. Carryover question and answer lines shall begin at the left-hand margins.

b. Block Version. Each question and answer shall begin at the left-hand margin. The text shall begin no more than five spaces following the question and answer. Carryover question and answer lines shall begin no more than six spaces from the left-hand margin.

6. Either of the following may be used.
a. Colloquy material shall begin no more than 15 spaces from the left-hand margin, with carryover lines commencing no more than 10 spaces from the left-hand margin.

b. Colloquy material shall begin with the speaker ID on a separate line no more than 10 spaces from the left-hand margin. The actual text shall begin on the next line 15 spaces from the left-hand margin, with carryover lines no more than 12 spaces from the left-hand margin.

7. Quoted material shall be treated in the same manner as either question and answer (Subparagraphs 5.a or 5.b) or colloquy material (Subparagraphs 6.a or 6.b). Quoted material shall be single-spaced or double-spaced.

8. Parentheticals and exhibit markings shall begin no more than 15 spaces from the left-hand margin with carryover lines commencing no more than 15 spaces from the left-hand margin.

9. There shall be no numbered lines that are blank on a transcript page, excluding the last page of a transcript, title page, contents page, appearance page, stipulation page and certificate pages.

B. The board recognizes that technological advances in the court reporting profession may from time to time require the board to render advisory interpretations of the foregoing transcript format guidelines or may require modification of them in response to innovations and the evolving technology in court reporting. Technological advances are desirable and should be encouraged. The board needs a mechanism to accommodate technological changes while also maintaining enforceable standards to protect the profession from abuses in court reporting. The board hereby acknowledges its authority to issue advisory opinions on a case-by-case basis in response to petitions for declaratory orders and rulings in order to take account of technological innovation, customary practices, and unanticipated questions or ambiguities in the application of the foregoing transcript format guideline. Any interested person may petition the board for a declaratory order or ruling in writing no less than 30 days prior to a board meeting. If timely filed, the matter will be placed on the agenda for discussion at the board's next meeting and will be finally disposed of by the board within 90 days after the meeting. Further review of such final disposition by the board may be sought in the same manner as review of agency decisions or orders in adjudicated cases, as provided in R.S. 49:962.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:2551.

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