§ 1-210. Custody of trial records and documents.

§ 1-210. Custody of trial records and documents.

   (A) In addition to the requirements of § 1-205, all shorthand notes, audio recordings, log sheets, or any other material used in making the record in court shall be the property of the trial court. The originals shall remain in the custody of the court reporting personnel responsible for making such record until such time as that person leaves employment, that person's employment is terminated, or until that person is disabled or incapacitated. Upon the occurrence of any of the above, control of all such materials shall then be transferred to the clerk of the district court. All notes of court reporting personnel shall be marked on the first page with the name of court reporting personnel, date(s) of proceedings, case title(s), docket number(s), and "Criminal" if criminal cases were reported. Notes which contain criminal cases are to be separated and stored in separate filing equipment or storage boxes. Containers for permanent storage shall be marked with the year, type of notes (criminal or civil), and name of the court reporting personnel responsible for making such record. Court reporting personnel may, with the approval of the clerk of the district court, transfer permanent storage containers to the clerk of the district court at any time. Responsibility for the retrieval, research, and refiling of the notes contained in the storage files shall lie with such court reporting personnel or successor(s). Custody of any such materials may be assumed at any time by the judge in the event of failure on the part of the court reporting personnel to properly carry out duties as required by law, court rule, or direction of the appointing judge.

   (B) Except as it shall become necessary to include exhibits in bills of exceptions being prepared in connection with appeals to the Nebraska Supreme Court or Nebraska Court of Appeals, all exhibits shall be retained by the court reporting personnel responsible for custody of the record until a matter is terminated, at which time responsibility for the safekeeping of such exhibits shall pass to the clerk of the district court, unless otherwise ordered by a district or separate juvenile court judge pursuant to law. Likewise, the responsibility for the safekeeping of all exhibits shall pass to the clerk of the district court at such time the court reporting personnel leaves employment, is terminated, or becomes disabled or incapacitated.

   (C) Upon the transfer of responsibility for the safekeeping of exhibits from the court reporting personnel to the clerk of the district court, the court reporting personnel shall ensure that all exhibits in each case are grouped together and shall state thereon the caption of the case, docket and page or case number, the date or dates of the trial or proceedings, and the name of the reporter or courtroom clerk. The court reporting personnel shall prepare in each case, for the signature of the clerk of the district court, a receipt acknowledging responsibility for the safekeeping of such materials. The original of the receipt shall be retained by the clerk.

   (D) Court reporting personnel in county courts shall refer to the Uniform County Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.

§ 1-210 amended June 9, 2010; § 1-210 amended June 16, 2021, effective January 1, 2022.