What is a digital recording?
A digital recording is the electronic record as defined in Florida Rules of General Practice & Judicial Administration 2.535(a)(5): "audio, analog, digital, or video record of a court proceeding."
Is the digital recording the official record?
No, the digital recording is not the official record and will not be accepted as such unless transcribed by the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.
Do all digital recordings contain video?
Video is not required to create a record of a court proceeding. Although most 15th Circuit courtrooms/hearing rooms are equipped with audio recording technology, some are not furnished with video recording capabilities. Therefore, Court Reporting Services cannot guarantee video will be included with all copies of recordings provided by our office.
As a party to the case, why am I required to sign a Prohibition Against Dissemination form when ordering a digital recording?
Due to court proceedings often containing confidential information, this legal document simply acknowledges that you are prohibited from sharing or distributing confidential information. Dissemination of information is strictly prohibited and may subject an offender to legal action for contempt of court (See AOSC11-22).
What digital recording formats are available for purchase?
Court Reporting Services offers two digital recording formats detailed below. For additional information on fees, please refer to Exhibit A of AO 2.503. Please note, Court Reporting Services is unable to retain requests for more than 30 days without financial arrangements.
- Digital Download: A copy of the digital recording sent via e-mail with a secure link to download within 30 days. Digital downloads are convenient in that they can be delivered instantly. Fee Per Product/Court Event: $20.00 (Non-refundable once production has begun)
- CD/DVD: A physical disc that can be picked up in person at the 15th Judicial Circuit's Main Branch Courthouse. Alternatively, a requesting party can provide a pre-paid mailer for the product to be mailed. Fee Per Product/Court Event: $25.00 (Non-refundable once production has begun)
What form of payments are accepted?
Payment for Product: If you are a party to a case, you may pay online at the time of submitting your request. Otherwise, payments are accepted in the form of a cashier's check or money order payable to the State of Florida.
Payment for Review Fee (If applicable): Payment for a review fee are accepted in the form of a cashier's check or money order payable to the Board of County Commissioners.
What is the standard turnaround time for a digital recording?
A party to a case that has submitted both a signed Prohibition Against Dissemination form and payment can generally expect a product to be fulfilled within five business days.
When does the standard turnaround not apply?
Lengthier turnaround times can be expected due to unforeseen high volume periods and most commonly for all non-party requests. If you are not listed in the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's docketing system as an attorney or a party to a case, the request will be processed as a public record request with a non-refundable review fee applied. In accordance with the Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420(a), a review of the digital product must be undertaken by the Circuit's Office of General Counsel prior to its release. As such, certain lengthy proceedings (e.g. jury trials) can inherently increase the review time resulting in longer turnaround times.
What software is required to listen to the digital recording copy?
Court Reporting Services has transitioned from utilizing For the Record (FTR) to OpenCourt (OC) recording software. Therefore, the software instructions will vary based on the date of the proceeding/hearing. All completed requests will include the below software instructions via e-mail for a user-friendly experience. It is strongly recommended to use headphones for the best listening experience.
- OpenCourt (OC) – view OpenCourt (OC) instructions
- For The Record (FTR) – View For the Record (FTR) instructions
Notice to Mac/Apple users: Digital recording files may not be compatible with Mac/Apple products.
Can Court Reporting Services convert the file format provided?
To ensure the process of providing records is processed efficiently and consistently, Court Reporting Services will not convert the digital recording file format. Under Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420(m)(2), the custodian shall determine the form in which the record is provided.
