Court reporters must keep their records of a trial for 20 days, beginning on the last day of the trial or until an appeal is final.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. 30 days
• D. 60 days

Answer: (A)

Retention of court records is about ensuring availability for review. Court reporters must keep the records for 20 days after the last day of the trial, and if an appeal is filed, they keep them until the appeal is final. This setup ensures the record is ready for any immediate questions after trial while also remaining accessible throughout the appellate process. If no appeal is filed, the 20-day window ends and the record can be retired after that period. If an appeal is filed, the retention extends until the appellate court issues a final decision, which means the actual holding period can be longer than 20 days. That combination is why the statement is true. The alternative timeframes—30 or 60 days—do not account for the possibility of an appeal and would not meet the requirement for appellate review.