Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, General Division

The original courtroom recording systems used analog videotape media to make a record of court proceedings.  Subsequent systems utilize digital audio and video recording technology to make a record of court proceedings.  A proposed rule change would eliminate the use of videotape as a recording method in the General Division.  The recommendation is made for the following reasons:

·         Videotape is obsolete as a recording media.

·         The choice of recording systems and media is a decision of the Administrative Judge.

·         High quality videotape decks that were originally included in our courtroom systems are no longer being produced.

·         Duplication of VHS tapes is time consuming and cumbersome.

·         New courtroom recording systems are totally digital, using CD and DVD media for reproducing and storing recorded proceedings.

·         VHS tapes take up an excessive amount of storage space.

·         CD DVD recording media are more user friendly and allows faster production and review of recordings.

·         CD DVD records can be reviewed on any pc using Microsoft Media Player or a free Jefferson Audio Video player that coordinates with the recording log.

·         The Court of Appeals does not use the videotape to review the record.

·         Municipal Courts and other Common Pleas Courts use digital audio without video.

The proposed rules will result in the following changes.

·         The General Division discontinue the practice of storing a VHS tape as the archival copy of proceedings.

·         A CD or DVD copy of proceedings will be stored as the archival copy of any proceedings.

·         A CD or DVD copy of the proceedings will be filed with the Clerk when a case appealed.

If approved, this change will be phased in as systems are reinstalled, replaced, or upgraded.

These proposed rules can be reviewed at www.

Feel free to review this proposed rule change and provide any comments that would be helpful to the process.