When does the 20-day record retention period for court reporters begin?

• A. On the last day of trial
• B. After denial of a motion for new trial
• C. At the end of the appeal is final
• D. Beginning the last day of the trial or denial of a motion for new trial or until an appeal is final

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that the 20-day record-retention clock starts when the proceedings effectively end, which can happen in different ways depending on what happens after trial. If there’s no post-trial motion, the clock begins on the last day of the trial because that’s when the case is finished. If a motion for a new trial is filed, the clock starts after that motion is denied, since the case remains open for potential post-trial rulings. If an appeal is filed, the clock runs until the appeal is final, ensuring the record is available for any appellate review. So the correct understanding is that the start can be the last day of the trial, or the denial of a post-trial motion, or until the appeal is final, depending on the sequence of events.