The pilot project announced this summer by the Indiana Supreme Court that includes using video transcripts in three trial courts as the official court record will run through Dec. 31, 2013.

Chief Justice Brent Dickson signed an order Sept. 18 that provides detail as to how the video project will work and why the court decided to institute it. Marion Superior Court, Criminal 6 (major felony), Tippecanoe Superior Court 3 (juvenile) and Allen Superior Court (civil) are participating in the pilot, which began in August. Those courts were chosen because they will generate diverse cases for appeal – major felony convictions, termination of parental rights, and civil rulings.

Appellate Judges Cale Bradford, Melissa May and James Kirsch will spearhead the project and participate in the review of the selected cases.

During the pilot project, the participating courts, clerks, court reporters and parties shall comply with the Indiana Rules of Appellate and Trial Procedure, with exceptions noted in the order. The court will have to keep a trial event log to indicate where specific portions of the hearing – such as voir dire and jury instructions – begin and end.

Within 30 days of filing the notice of appeal, two copies of the audio/visual recording must be certified by the court reporter and filed with the trial clerk. The order also outlines brief and other filing deadlines.

The order became effective July 1, 2012. Dickson also notes that the project could be extended by further order of the court. The project is officially designated the "Indiana Court Reporting Pilot Project for Audio/Visual Recordings."

Using video transcripts as the record for appeal is just one of three pilot projects that started this summer. The other two projects will cut the transcript filing time from 90 days to 30 days as well as involve electronic filing of the appellate record.