Rule 80 Transcript or Recording of Testimony as Evidence

When a witness testifies at a hearing or trial, that testimony is sometimes recorded or written down by a court reporter. If that same testimony needs to be used as evidence in a later trial, this rule explains how to prove what was actually said.

There are two ways to do this. First, you can use a written transcript, but it has to be certified by the court reporter who typed it up. Second, you can use an audio or video recording, but it has to be certified by the court where the recording was made.

This matters because courts need to trust that the testimony being presented is accurate and hasn't been changed. The certification requirement makes sure there's an official record backing up the transcript or recording before it can be used again in a later trial.