Notice to Attorneys:
Beginning Monday, May 5, 2014, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas will make digital audio recordings of certain court proceedings available to the public online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. Audio files of court proceedings specified by the Judge may be accessed in our CM/ECF system by the second business day after the Judge makes the specification. The clerk’s office will not entertain requests for publication of digital audio recordings of a particular trial or hearing.
The digital audio record will be embedded as an MP3 file in the PDF document associated with the case docket entry in CM/ECF, indicating “PDF with attached Audio File” and the associated hearing date.
The digital audio file can be accessed from the CM/ECF docket report. PACER users will be charged $2.40 to download the PDF with the embedded digital audio file. Registered CM/ECF users who are attorneys of record on the case will receive a first free look in the Notice of Electronic Filing.
Limiting Personal Information:
Counsel and involved parties are responsible for ensuring that pleadings and testimony of record comply with the Court’s rules requiring redaction of personal data identifiers. If private information is stated on the record during a hearing or trial that is selected for publication in digital audio format, this information will not be redacted. Counsel is reminded to avoid introducing personal data identifiers or other sensitive information into the record, unless necessary to the case. If private information is on the record, you may move to seal or otherwise prohibit publication of the digital audio file of the hearing or trial in CM/ECF.
Optimal Practice for the Digital Record
Announce yourself and speak directly into the podium microphone.
Avoid having off the record remarks recorded – anything parties say near a microphone during court may be recorded and posted to the Internet.
Protracted private conversations should be kept at a minimum or taken outside the courtroom whenever possible.