A
transcript is a
written record of spoken language. In
court proceedings, a transcript is usually a record of all decisions of the
judge, and the spoken
arguments by the
litigants'
lawyers. A related term used in the United States is
docket, not a full transcript. The transcript is expected to be an exact and unedited record of every spoken word, with each speaker indicated. Such a record was originally made by court
stenographers who used a form of
shorthand abbreviation to write as quickly as people spoke. Today, most
court reporters use a
specialized machine with a
phonetic key system, typing a key or key combination for every sound a person utters. Many courts worldwide have now begun to use
digital recording systems. The recordings are archived and are sent to
court reporters or
transcribers only when a transcript is requested. Many US transcripts are
indexed by Deposition Source so that they may be searched by legal professionals via the
Internet. Transcripts may be available publicly or to a restricted group of persons; a fee may be charged.