Description and Application Process

 List of Court Approved Transcriptionist

Beginning November 15, 2004, the Twelfth Judicial Circuit implemented the digital recording of certain court proceedings that are required to be reported at public expense.  The Circuit’s current policy of which proceedings are reported electronically and stenographically is set forth in Administrative Order 2009-18.2.  

In the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, written transcripts of digitally recorded proceedings are not typically provided.  Exceptions to this policy can be found in Administrative Order 2010-1-2.  If a written transcript is needed, upon request and receipt of applicable payment, the Digital Court Recording Office will provide an audio CD of the requested court proceeding.  The requestor can then make arrangements with a transcriptionist to prepare a written record of the court proceeding.   

On July 16, 2009, the Florida Supreme Court entered Order No. SC08-1658, titled “In RE: Amendments to the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration and the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure – Implementation of Commission on Trial Court Performance and Accountability Recommendations”.   This order amended Rule 2.535(h)(3), Fla. R. Jud. Admin., which now requires that all transcripts to be used for the purpose of appeal or prepared at public expense be prepared by an “approved court reporter” or “approved transcriptionist”. 

At this time all independent contractors who perform transcription services in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, either for the purpose of appeal or at public expense, including transcriptionists who provide transcript services for the court, public defender’s office, state attorney’s office, court-appointed counsel, the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, or who provide transcription services for a party declared “indigent for costs” which may be reimbursable by the Justice Administrative Commission, must be “approved transcriptionists”. 

Becoming a Court Approved Transcriptionist

Transcriptionists that would like to be considered as an “approved transcriptionist” must fill out the Court Approved Transcriptionist Application and mail with the signed Transcriptionist Confidentiality Agreement and a copy of all professional certificates to the Digital Court Recording Office. 

Upon acceptance of the application, the applicant will be mailed a CD containing two audio records of digitally recorded court proceedings from which he/she will be asked to provide two sample transcripts.  The sample transcripts will be reviewed by a court employee who is also an “approved court reporter”.  If the sample transcripts are approved, the applicant will be notified and the contact information provided on the application, including name, phone number and mailing address, will be posted on the List of Court Approved Transcriptionists page.  If the sample transcripts do not meet the circuit’s expectation of a high rate of accuracy and adherence to commonly accepted rules of punctuation, grammar and transcription, the application will be rejected and an explanation of the reason for the rejection will be provided.  The applicant may resubmit a revised sample transcript with corrections at any time to be reconsidered for approval.  

As an independent contractor, all “approved transcriptionists” not preparing transcripts for the court will be responsible for setting their own rates and terms of work.  Court Administration will not take responsibility for the failure or inability of an “approved transcriptionist” to comply with the time requirements of transcripts needed for appeal purposes.  If Court Administration becomes aware of an “approved transcriptionist” who does not routinely comply with the time requirements placed on appeal work or who no longer produces transcripts that meet the circuit’s expectations described above, the situation will be reviewed.  If necessary, the transcriptionist will be removed from the List of Court Approved Transcriptionist and will no longer be permitted to perform transcription services at public expense within the circuit. 

If you would like to be considered as an “approved transcriptionist”, please mail the Court Approved Transcriptionist Application, Confidentiality Agreement and copies of professional certificates to the Digital Court Recording Office at the address below.

If you would like to be considered as an “approved transcriptionist”, please mail the Court Approved Transcriptionist Application, Confidentiality Agreement and copies of professional certificates to the Digital Court Recording Office at the address below.

Digital Court Recording Office
2002 Ringling Blvd. 4th Floor
Sarasota, FL.  34237

Applications can also be scanned and emailed to Sarastoa DCR.

Contact Information

Manatee County
  • Address:
    Digital Court Recording Office
    12th Judicial Circuit
    Court Administration
    PO Box 3000
    Bradenton, FL 34205
  • Email: Manatee DCR

Sarasota County
  • Address:
    Digital Court Recording Office
    2002 Ringling Blvd. 4th Floor
    Sarasota, FL.  34237
  • Email: Sarasota DCR

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