Legal TAES Page Completion Guide

TAES Page Completion

• Court reporters fill out TAES pages (Title, Appearances, Exhibits, Stipulation) using a template.
• All TAES pages require proofreading, in addition to the proceedings themselves.

"Also Present" Section

• Individuals present who aren't counsel or the witness are listed under "ALSO PRESENT."
• No contact information is included.
• Each person listed requires a descriptor (e.g., "Mary Clark, Paralegal").
• Judges are also included in this section.

Attorneys from the Same Firm

• If attorneys from the same firm, representing the same party, appear in person and remotely, their appearance method is noted (e.g., "Appeared via videoconference").
• Firm name, contact info (telephone number, email addresses), and details for each attorney are included.

Orders of Examination

• Proofers must complete Orders of Examination that reflect the proceedings.

CME/IME, CNA, SNA

• CME/IME (Certified Medical Examination/Evaluation) and Independent Medical Examination/Evaluation documentation is included in colloquy.
• CNA (Certificate of Non-Appearance) forms are completed by court reporters.
• SNA (Statement of Non-Appearance) is a statement by counsel (recorded in colloquy) detailing why a witness did not appear.

Transcript Formatting

• Two spaces after punctuation.
• No bold, underline, or italics.
• Question and Answer (Q. and A.) markings are followed by periods.
• Standard speaker designations (e.g., THE COURT, THE WITNESS, MS./MR. [LAST NAME]) are used. Specify first name if multiple attorneys share the same last name. Other speaker designations.
• Full names are used when appropriate (e.g., for taped transcripts).
• Colloquy sections are distinct.

Byline Formatting

• Bylines are required when transcribing moves back into the main examination after colloquy.
• Bylines show which speaker the question/action corresponds to.
• Included after colloquy, resuming Q&A sections, "OFF THE RECORD" markers, exhibit parentheticals.

Handling Inaudible Portions

• Mark portions as inaudible only if absolutely necessary.
• Utilize all audio sources.
• If an inaudible is detected, include the timestamp and source for later review.

Transcript Naming and Phonetics

• Only use a phonetic spelling (i.e., (phonetic)) for a word the first time the word is spoken/written.
• No phonetic mark on repeated mentions

Non-Verbal Responses

• A lack of a verbal response from a speaker (to a question) is marked in the transcript as (No verbal response), using correct punctuation.
• Avoid using (No audible response)

"Sic" Markers

• Use "sic" (in brackets) for incorrectly used or mispronounced words (speaker error, not transcriptionist error).
• Only use [sic] the first time a word is incorrectly used/mispronounced.
• Do not use [sic] for common made-up words or poor grammar

Sound Effects (Sound Descriptions)

• Replace sounds with (sound effect) when a speaker uses sounds (instead of words) to convey something.
• Acknowledge sounds on the record via a transcript entry (e.g., sneezes, coughs, phone rings).

Foreign Language Handling

• If a speaker speaks a foreign language and there's no interpreter (during a proceeding), the language is not transcribed (marked as, example: speaking Spanish).

Redaction of Personal Information

• Redact birth dates and Social Security numbers with "X" and dashes, unless the attorney or court specifies otherwise, or it is a minor's birthdate in a milestone transcript.).
• Redact full names of minors (under 18) unless on the title page or deposition notice.
• Verification of redactions for minors (for taped transcripts) is needed.

Certifying Questions or Objections

• Mark parentheticals for certified questions or objections, located above the question or objection.

Exhibit Indexing

• Include certified questions, certified objections, and formal requests on the exhibit index page.
• Only include one exhibit per parenthetical, even if multiple exhibits are mentioned at once.
• Do not insert exhibit parentheticals before the speaker is finished talking.
• Byline required after marking multiple exhibits.

Re-read/Re-play Actions

• Do not transcribe the actual re-read/re-play on the transcript, instead of:
• "REPORTER PLAYS BACK REQUESTED TESTIMONY" or "REPORTER READS BACK REQUESTED TESTIMONY" or equivalent.

Quotation Formatting

• The symbol is used when the words "quote" and "end quote" mark the beginning and end of a quote.

Double Dashes

• Use double dashes:
• When a witness repeats themselves.
• When a line of thought shifts mid-sentence.
• When a sentence is interrupted by another speaker.

Repeating Words

• Eliminate the second repetition of one or two words consecutively if a judge or attorney repeats it.

Listening Acknowledgement Words

• In transcripts, remove common acknowledgment filler words like "uh-huhs" and "okays" from attorney remarks/dialogue or where appropriate.

Capitalization of Nouns

• Common nouns are not capitalized. Proper nouns (specific names of people, places, or things) should be capitalized.

Number Handling

• Numbers zero through ten are spelled out. Exceptions include exhibit numbers, ages, pain scales, height, grade levels, pages (and related), decimals ('point'), and percentages.