FORWARDING THE RECORD Local Rule 11(a). Transcript Acknowledgments. Upon receipt of an order for a transcript, the Clerk of the Court of Appeals will prepare for the reporter a transcript order acknowledgment which will set forth the date the transcript order was received in the Clerk's Office and the transcript due date, computed from the order receipt date in accordance with the time limits set forth in the applicable district court reporter management plan. If the transcript order is correct in all respects, except for an order date error in the reporter's favor, no response will be required from the reporter. If the reporter believes that there is a problem with the transcript order, he or she must complete a copy of the acknowledgment form noting the problem and return it to the Court of Appeals within 7 days of receipt of the form by the reporter, or within such further time as the Court of Appeals allows. The time for completion of the transcript will automatically cease to run until the problem has been remedied. The Clerk of the Court of Appeals will send a new transcript order acknowledgment setting forth new transcript order and filing dates taking into account the delay caused by resolving the problem with the original transcript order. Local Rule 11(b). Time Limits for Filing Transcripts. Although FRAP 11(b)(1)(B) requires that transcripts be completed within 30 days from the purchase order date, this Court routinely uses instead the time limits set forth in the district court reporter management plans. All of the plans establish a 60-day period for preparation of transcripts, with the following exceptions: (1) Special provisions adopted by the Fourth Circuit Judicial Council for appeals by incarcerated criminal defendants: (a) transcripts of 1000 pages or less shall be filed within 30 days of transcript order and completion of satisfactory financial arrangements. (b) transcripts of more than 1000 pages shall be filed within the time ordered by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals. (2) Special circumstances, such as: (a) bail appeals, (b) death penalty cases, or (c) other expedited procedures in which the transcript shall be filed within the time ordered by the Clerk of the Court of Appeals. Local Rule 11(c). Exhibits. Counsel should be aware that certain portions of the record will not be transmitted to the Court of Appeals as part of the record. If bulky documents and physical exhibits are required by a party for oral argument, the party must make advance arrangements with the clerks of both courts for their transportation and receipt. Such arrangements are best made after the completion of the briefing schedule on appeal and receipt of notice of oral argument. Local Rule 11(d). Access of Counsel to Original Record. Counsel desiring to use the record on appeal in preparing their case should make arrangements with the clerk of the district court for access to the record. Under Local Rule 10(a), records in cases in which all parties are represented by counsel are retained by the district court clerk during appeal unless a judge of the Court of Appeals requests that they be obtained. If the record is transmitted to the Court of Appeals, the record may be withdrawn upon proper application and returned to the trial court or the nearest district court clerk's office for counsel's review. Law professors representing indigents by Court appointment may request that the record be sent to the law school for their review. I.O.P.-11.1. Sanctions for Court Reporter's Failure to File a Timely Transcript. The Fourth Circuit Judicial Council has implemented a resolution of the Judicial Conference of the United States which mandates sanctions for the late delivery of transcripts. For transcripts not delivered within the time limits set forth in Local Rule 11(b), the reporter may charge only 90 percent of the prescribed fee; for a transcript not delivered within 30 days after that time the reporter may charge only 80 percent of the prescribed fee. The time period in criminal proceedings for the preparation of transcripts that are ordered before sentencing shall not begin to run until after entry of the judgment and commitment order.
