Title I. Courts · Chapter 7. Other Officers of the Court · Last amended 2006 · Last verified July 30, 2026
This article has two versions. The text below is in effect now. A new version takes effect August 1, 2026; it appears further down this page.
In one sentenceArticle 372 makes a trial court's court reporter responsible for recording testimony, evidence, objections, and rulings verbatim, transcribing the record on request or when fees are paid, and retaining trial notes and recordings for a minimum period before they may be destroyed by court order.
Full Text of Art. 372 (Current Version)
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A. The court reporter of a trial court, when directed by the court, shall report verbatim in shorthand by stenography or stenotype, or by voice recording or any other recognized manner when the equipment therefor has been approved by the court, the testimony of all witnesses, the other evidence introduced or offered, the objections thereto, and the rulings of the court thereon, on the trial of any appealable civil case or matter.
B. When the court so directs, or the fees therefor have been paid or secured, or when an appeal has been granted in cases in which a party has been permitted to litigate without the payment of costs, he shall transcribe verbatim in a manner approved by the supreme court, all of his notes taken at the trial, or such portion thereof as is designated. He shall file one copy of the transcript in the trial court; shall deliver a copy thereof to each of the parties who has paid therefor; and, when an appeal has been granted, he shall furnish to the clerk of the trial court the number of copies of the transcript required by law.
C. The court reporter shall retain all notes and tape recordings in civil cases for a period of not less than five years after the end of the trial. However, if the record of the trial is fully transcribed, the court reporter shall retain all notes and tape recordings which have been fully transcribed for a period of not less than two years after transcription is completed. The court reporter shall destroy any notes and tape recordings of any matter upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction. D. The notes and tape recordings of any civil case which are retained by a court reporter pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall be the property of the court in which the case was heard. The court reporter shall have the duty to retain and maintain all such notes and tape recordings pursuant to the provisions of this Article, although the notes and tape recordings shall remain the property of the court.
E. He shall perform such other duties as are assigned to him by law or by the court.
F. When a party to a proceeding requests a transcript and has paid for the transcript, the court reporter shall provide that party with an electronic copy of the transcript along with a paper copy of the transcript at no additional charge or cost to the requesting party.
A. The court reporter of a trial court, when directed by the court, shall report verbatim in shorthand by stenography or stenotype, or by voice recording or any other recognized manner when the equipment therefor has been approved by the court, the testimony of all witnesses, the other evidence introduced or offered, the objections thereto, and the rulings of the court thereon, on the trial of any appealable civil case or matter.
B. When the court so directs, or the fees therefor have been paid or secured, or when an appeal has been granted in cases in which a party has been permitted to litigate without the payment of costs, he shall transcribe verbatim in a manner approved by the supreme court, all of his notes taken at the trial, or such portion thereof as is designated. He shall file one copy of the transcript in the trial court; shall deliver a copy thereof to each of the parties who has paid therefor; and, when an appeal has been granted, he shall furnish to the clerk of the trial court the number of copies of the transcript required by law.
C. The court reporter shall retain all notes and audio recordings in civil cases for a period of not less than five years after the end of the trial. However, if the record of the trial is fully transcribed, the court reporter shall retain all notes and audio recordings which have been fully transcribed for a period of not less than two years after transcription is completed. Retention of the tape and audio recordings are subject to the storage provisions provided in Paragraph D of this Article. The court reporter shall destroy any notes and audio recordings of any matter upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
D. The notes and tape recordings of any civil case which are retained by a court reporter pursuant to the provisions of this Article are the property of the court in which the case was heard. The court retains ownership of the recordings and notes, and if a court reporter retires or leaves the employment of the court, all notes, audio recordings, and other records of court proceedings shall remain in the custody and control of the court and be retained pursuant to applicable retention statutes and the provisions of this Article.
E. He shall perform such other duties as are assigned to him by law or by the court.
F. When a party to a proceeding requests a transcript and has paid for the transcript, the court reporter shall provide that party with an electronic copy of the transcript along with a paper copy of the transcript at no additional charge or cost to the requesting party.
Amendment History (Effective August 1, 2026 Version)
When the court directs it, the court reporter records — in shorthand by stenography or stenotype, by voice recording, or by another court-approved method — the testimony of witnesses, the other evidence introduced or offered, the objections raised, and the court's rulings, at trial of any appealable civil case or matter. That record is what an appellate court will later rely on if the case is appealed.
The reporter also handles transcription. Once the court directs it, the fees are paid or secured, or an appeal is granted in a case where a party was allowed to litigate without paying costs, the reporter transcribes the notes verbatim, in a manner the supreme court approves, files a copy with the trial court, delivers copies to parties who paid for them, and furnishes the clerk with the copies an appeal requires. A party who has paid for a transcript is entitled to an electronic copy along with the paper copy at no extra charge.
Retention has its own rules. The reporter must keep all notes and tape recordings in a civil case for at least five years after the trial ends, or, if the trial record is fully transcribed, for at least two years after transcription is completed. Notes and recordings are destroyed only on order of a court of competent jurisdiction, and they remain the property of the court that heard the case, even though the reporter is the one responsible for maintaining them.
An amendment effective August 1, 2026 renames this article to focus on retention and destruction of court reporters' notes and recordings and adds that these materials stay in the court's custody and control even after a reporter retires or leaves the position.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long must a court reporter keep trial notes and recordings?
At least five years after the trial ends, or, if the record was fully transcribed, at least two years after the transcription is completed.
Who owns the notes and recordings a court reporter makes?
The court in which the case was heard, not the reporter personally, though the reporter has the duty to retain and maintain them.
Can a party get a free electronic copy of a trial transcript?
Yes. Once a party has paid for the transcript, Article 372(F) entitles that party to an electronic copy along with the paper copy at no additional charge.
What methods can a court reporter use to record trial testimony?
Stenography, stenotype, voice recording, or any other manner the court has approved.
Is Article 372 changing soon?
Yes. An amendment effective August 1, 2026 expands the retention and destruction rules for a court reporter's notes and recordings, including confirming they remain in the court's custody even after the reporter leaves the position.
Source & verification. Article text is reproduced verbatim from
the vLex (Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure, 2026 Edition). Enacted by the Louisiana Legislature.
Last verified July 30, 2026.
· Official source
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