Appeals and Audio Recordings

Obtaining Audio Record

A recording system is used for all hearings and trials in the Wahkiakum County Superior Court Courtroom.

The Supreme Court of Washington amended several of the court rules governing procedures to be followed on appeal when a trial court uses a recording system to establish a record.  [See 122 Wn.2d 1121 (1993).]  These rule changes affect (Rules of Appellate Procedure) RAP 9.2, RAP 9.3, RAP 9.4 and RAP 9.5 as well as Superior Court Civil Rule 80. 

RAP 9.1, which requires the report from any oral proceeding to be transcribed in the form of a written report, was NOT amended; therefore, the recorded proceeding is to be fully transcribed if there is an appeal.  Amended Rule 9.2(a) does require that only a court-approved transcriber prepares the verbatim report of proceedings on appeal. 

Pursuant to RAP 9.2(a), as amended by the Supreme Court in 122 Wn.2d 1121 (1993), Wahkiakum County Superior Court has developed the following procedures which are to be followed when arranging for a verbatim report of proceeding for an appeal from a recorded proceeding.

 How to Request a Copy of a Recorded Hearing

Superior Court is a court of record.  Most Superior Court proceedings are digitally recorded. To request a copy of the recorded hearing, follow the instructions below.

1. Complete the Audio CD request form.
2. Return completed form to the Superior Court Clerk with a payment of $25. This fee is per case, per hearing date. 
3. Orders can be mailed USPS, or picked up and will generally be completed within 5 business days.

For personal use, you may choose any transcriptionist who is able to transcribe from the record format provided by the court.

 Appeal Order Process

1. Complete and return the Appeal CD request Form provided by Superior Court Administration.  Return one copy to Court Administration for processing and a second copy to the Superior Court Clerk with the $25 audio duplication fee. For any questions, contact Superior Court Administration at 360-875-9328.
2. If this is a criminal appeal and your client is indigent, a copy of the signed Order of Indigence must be provided.
3. If the proceeding being appealed is a civil matter, or if the appellant in a criminal matter is not indigent, it is your responsibility to arrange with the transcriber those portions of the record to be transcribed at the per-page transcription rate.  It is also your responsibility to pay the transcriber. 

Court Approved Transcriptionists

Below are the names and contact information of transcriptionists that have been approved by the Court to prepare appellate transcripts:

Marjie Jackson, CET
 Reed Jackson Watkins, LLC
 800 5th Avenue, Suite 101-183
 Seattle, Washington 98104
www.rjwtranscripts.com
 206.624.3005

Amy Brittingham
 Brittingham Transcription Service
 31 Pineshore Drive
 Naches, WA 98937
brittinghamtranscription@yahoo.com
 509-594-2196

Melissa Firth
 Three Rivers Transcripts
 PO Box 515
 Castle Rock, WA 98611
3rtranscripts@comcast.net
 360-749-1754

Jo Jackson
 PO Box 914
 Waterville, WA 98858
jjackson@co.douglas.wa.us

Your Statement of Arrangements can indicate that you have made arrangements with the court to have the digital record prepared and sent to the transcriber you have selected.  Please provide two copies of the Statement of Arrangements to Court Administration.

When the transcript is completed, the original will be filed by the transcriber with Court of Appeals . The transcriber will also provide a copy to you and will serve and file notice of the filing on all other parties.  [See RAP 9.5(a) and (b) as amended by the Supreme Court, 122 Wn.2d 1122 (1993).]