Is a clerical error in the transcript a basis to automatically dismiss an appeal?

• A. Yes
• B. Yes, if the error affects the outcome
• C. No
• D. Only if the judge determines

Answer: (C)

In appellate practice, clerical errors in the transcript are treated as fixable mistakes, not grounds to end the appeal. A court can correct a stray typographical error or misstatement in the transcript without dismissing the case, using corrected transcripts or an errata process. Automatic dismissal would punish parties for a form mistake and run counter to the purpose of allowing review on the merits, so these errors don’t automatically stop an appeal from proceeding. If a problem truly affects what’s being reviewed, the remedy is to fix the record or take appropriate corrective steps, not to discard the appeal wholesale.