Rule 3804 Transcription of Notes of Testimony

When someone files an appeal to the Superior Court, the court reporter has to prepare the written transcript of what was said during the court proceedings. This transcript must be finished and given to the Clerk of Courts by 5:00 p.m. the very next business day. This is a fast turnaround compared to typical appeals.

If the court reporter misses this deadline, the appeals court can step in. It can order the reporter to finish the transcript right away and send it directly to the appellate court. The court can also punish the reporter for not following this order if needed.

This rule also protects pregnant women who are involved in cases under Pennsylvania's Abortion Control Act. If a woman qualifies under Section 3206 of that law, she is automatically assumed to have a waiver for fees and costs. This means she does not have to pay for the transcript.

Finally, this rule works on its own. The usual rules found in Chapter 19 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure, which normally cover transcripts in other appeals, do not apply here. This special set of rules replaces them for these specific cases.