Title 255--LOCAL COURT RULES BERKS COUNTY Berks County Rule of Judicial Administration No. 5000.7; No. 98-8009 [28 Pa.B. 5572] Order And Now, this 7th day of August, 1998, Berks County Rule of Judicial Administration No. 5000.7 is hereby amended to read as set forth in the following form and made a part hereof, and said Rule as so amended is hereby approved, adopted and promulgated for use in the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County, Pennsylvania. Berks County Rule of Judicial Administration as herein amended shall apply to all transcripts requested on or after October 1, 1998. Berks County Rule of Judicial Administration No. 5000.7 as heretofore adopted shall remain in effect as to all transcripts requested on or before September 30, 1998.
The Prothonotary of Berks county of Ordered and Directed to do each of the following:
(1) Keep continually available for inspection and copying, copies of this Order and of Berks County Rule of Judicial Administration No. 5000.7 as herein approved, adopted and promulgated;
(2) Forward ten (10) certified copies of the Order and Rule as herein amended to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts for distribution in accordance with Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration No. 103(c)(2).
Anything to the contrary hereinbefore set forth notwithstanding, this Order and Rule 5000.7 as amended and adopted herein shall not become effective unless, and until, the rates set forth therein are approved by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Judicial Administration 5000.7(f).
By the Court
SCOTT D. KELLER,
President JudgeBerks County Rule of Judicial Administration No. 5000.7. Fees for Transcripts.
(a) Where a person or entity other than the Commonwealth, or one of its political subdivisions, has requested a transcript:
(1) Any person or entity which obtains an order for a transcript shall pay to the clerk one-half the estimated cost for the transcript calculated at the rate of $2.25 for each page of original transcript and shall pay the balance upon completion of the transcript. The court reporter shall not be required to start the transcription until such advance payment has been made.
(2) Upon completion of the transcript, the court reporter shall lodge and file the original transcript of record and shall deliver one (1) complete and legible copy thereof:
(A) to the district attorney, if he is a party to the action or represents the Commonwealth in such action;
(B) to the county solicitor of Berks County, if he or she is party to the action or represents the County of Berks in such action;
(C) to the person or entity who ordered the transcript, if, but only if, such person or entity has paid the balance due for the transcript to the clerk in full, calculated at the rate of $2.25 for each page of original transcript.
(3) Where the Commonwealth, or any political subdivision, requests a copy of the transcript, the court reporter shall provide the Commonwealth, or political subdivision thereof, with a complete and legible copy thereof without charge.
(4) Where any person or entity, other than the Commonwealth, or a political subdivision thereof, requests a copy of the transcript, such person or entity may purchase the same by paying the clerk $1.00 for each page of complete and legible copy.
(5) The clerk shall pay the monies received for original transcript and for copies to the county promptly, and the county shall thereupon pay therefrom:
(A) to the court reporter, the sum of $2.25 for each page of original transcript.
(B) to the court reporter, the sum of $1.00 for each page of complete and legible copy.
(b) Where the Commonwealth or a subdivision thereof, including the County of Berks, is liable for the cost:
(1) The court reporter, upon receipt of the transcript order, shall immediately begin the transcription of his or her notes as directed by the transcript order.
(2) Upon completion of the transcript, the court reporter shall lodge and file the original transcript of record and shall deliver one (1) complete and legible copy to each of the following:
(A) to any party proceeding in forma pauperis;
(B) to the district attorney of Berks County, if said district attorney is a party to the action or is representing the Commonwealth in said action;
(C) to the county solicitor of Berks County, if the county solicitor is a party to the action or is representing the county in said action.
(D) If any person or entity, including but not limited to the Commonwealth, or any of its political subdivisions, desires a copy of the transcript, the court reporter shall provide such person or entity with a complete and legible copy of the same without charge.
(3) Upon completion of the transcript, the County of Berks shall pay to the court reporter, the sum of $2.00 for each page of original transcript.
(c) Any judge of the court, the district attorney and county solicitor shall each be entitled to a copy of the transcript in any proceeding upon request without charge. In such case, the county shall be liable for the cost of preparing the original transcript whenever no other person or entity is otherwise liable for the cost therefor.
(d) Nothing in this rule shall authorize delivery of a transcript, or copy thereof, in a proceeding where the record is impounded, to any person or entity not otherwise entitled to the same.
Comments: Rule 5000.2(h) of the Pa.R.J.A. provides that in any case where the court orders a transcript for its own use or where a copy thereof is for the use of a party entitled to proceed in forma pauperis, the county shall pay for the original and one copy of the transcript.
Berks County provides a computer-aided transcription system. For those court reporters who cannot use the system or who must transcribe notes not capable of being translated by the system, the county provides dictation equipment, typewriters, paper and supplies, and pays the typist directly.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-1830. Filed for public inspection November 6, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
