Opinion ID: 1926615
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: introduction of transcripts in lieu of tapes

Text: The State acknowledges that the actual tape recordings of all conversations between Atkins and Detective Bullen are in existence and were available at trial. Nevertheless, the State, over Atkins' objection, was permitted to introduce transcripts only as evidence of those conversations between (1) Atkins and Bullen, (2) Atkins, Bullen and Scott and (3) Atkins, Bullen, and Green. Delaware Uniform Rules of Evidence 1002 provides: To prove the content of a writing, recording, or photograph, the original writing, recording or photograph is required except as otherwise provided in these rules or by statute. D.R.E. 1002. Atkins contends that the State was required to introduce the original tapes of the recorded conversations into evidence. The State argues that the original tapes were not required because it was not attempting to prove the content of the recordings but was attempting to prove the contents of the conversations. The Delaware Uniform Rules of Evidence are modeled upon the Federal Rules of Evidence. However, D.R.E. 1002 tracks Uniform Rule of Evidence 1002 instead of F.R.E. 1002 which was believed to be inapplicable to a State. Nevertheless, the notes of the Federal Rules Advisory Committee are instructive and we must consult them for guidance. See Ricketts v. State, Del. Supr., 488 A.2d 856, 857, n. 2, (1985). That Committee observed that the application of Rule 1002 requires a resolution of the question of whether the contents of the writing or recording are sought to be proved. The Federal Advisory Committee acknowledged that certain events may be proved by non-documentary evidence, even though a written or taped record of it was made. For example, payment may be proved without producing the written receipt which was given, e.g., through testimony of a party to the transaction. Similarly, earnings may be proved without producing books of account in which they are entered. McCormick § 198, 4 Wigmore § 1245. The Federal Advisory Committee states, however, that if the event is sought to be proved by the written or taped record, the Best Evidence Rule does apply and the original written or taped record must be used. See Notes of Advisory Committee on Proposed Rule 1002. In this case, the State properly points to the fact that it was attempting to prove an event, i.e., the conversation. Under the Best Evidence Rule, the State had the option of proving the conversation (event) by offering the testimony of witnesses or by introducing the tapes. See United States v. Gonzales-Benitez, 537 F.2d 1051 (9th Cir.1976), cert. den., 429 U.S. 923, 97 S.Ct. 323, 50 L.Ed.2d 291 (1976). However, once the State elected to prove the conversations through the recorded tapes rather than by the testimony of witnesses who heard the conversations, the State was obligated to introduce all of the original tapes. [1] The following exchange is illustrative of the manner in which the transcripts of the tape recorded conversations were introduced at Atkins' trial. Q. What is contained in State's for Identification B, please: A. This is a transcription of the meeting with Mary Scott, George Atkins and myself at Mary Scott's residence. Q. It starts out, `Yo, Mary. Talk to this man.' Mr. Atkins is speaking? A. Yes. MS. BRADY: Your Honor, I would move its admission at this time. MR. ROBB: Your Honor, I would have the same objection under the best evidence rule to this other evidence of the original being put into evidence. Since the tape does exist, I think it is the best evidence. THE COURT: Miss Sherlock. MS. SHERLOCK: I have the same objection under the best evidence rule, Your Honor. THE COURT: The objections are overruled. The testimony of the witness was not used to prove the conversation but was used to prove the accuracy of the transcription of the tape recorded conversation. The transcription was being offered as proof of the contents of the tape recording, i.e. the conversation. Under these circumstances, the State was obligated to introduce the original tape recording to prove its contents (the conversation). D.R.E. 1002. If the contents of a tape recording are being proved, the original tapes must be offered into evidence. A different question arises when the original tapes are introduced into evidence and there is a request to also introduce transcripts of those tapes. Since Atkins will receive a new trial, we will address the evidentiary considerations that arise when both tape recordings and transcripts exist. In a recent case, a defendant argued that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting into evidence transcripts of tape recordings in addition to the tape recordings themselves. Van Arsdall v. State, Del.Supr., 486 A.2d 1 (1984). [2] We held that there was no abuse of discretion. However, our holding in Van Arsdall should not be construed as approving the automatic simultaneous admission into evidence of an accurate transcript with the admission of a tape recording. In rejecting Van Arsdall's position, this Court cited United States v. Turner, 528 F.2d 143 (9th Cir. 1975), cert. den. 423 U.S. 966, 96 S.Ct. 426, 46 L.Ed.2d 371 (1975), and United States v. Carson, 464 F.2d 424 (2d Cir.1972), cert. den. 409 U.S. 949, 93 S.Ct. 268, 34 L.Ed.2d 219 (1972). The Turner and the Carson decisions are instructive with respect to the competing considerations that come before a trial court when exercising its discretion to admit or exclude transcripts in addition to the tape recordings themselves. [3] The first concern which a trial court must address is the accuracy of the transcript. The second concern relates to what, if any, use may be made of the transcripts at trial. In Van Arsdall, the parties agreed that the transcripts were fair and accurate. [4] 486 A.2d at 9. In Turner and Carson, the parties reached the same conclusion by equally acceptable alternate methods. In Turner, the Court found: There can be no doubt that the transcripts were an accurate rendition of the contents of the tapes. The district judge, in the presence of defense counsel, methodically reviewed many of the tapes and corresponding transcripts to ensure their conformity. In doing so, the court made appropriate corrections in the transcripts, including changes requested by defense counsel, and then found these transcripts accurate as corrected. Thereafter, upon the court's suggestion that the government and defense meet out of court and attempt to stipulate to the accuracy of the remaining transcripts, all counsel agreed that Mr. Reichmann, the attorney for defendant Howard Lewis, would conduct a comparison of the tapes and transcripts, making any necessary corrections. Reichmann did so, and subsequently all counsel stipulated that the corrected transcripts were an accurate rendition of the contents of the tapes, and further, that the court reporter need not transcribe the conversations as played but instead could simply copy the corrected transcripts into the record. Turner, 528 F.2d at 167. In Carson, the Court found: . . .An in camera hearing was later held, prior to the introduction of the tapes or transcripts into evidence, and three transcripts were made of the tapes. The parties agreed that the transcripts accurately reflected the words on the tapes, with certain exceptions as to which it was agreed that the transcripts would contain the version believed accurate by each party. The Government agreed with most of the changes sought by defense counsel, and on the most damaging tape, that of the December 29th meeting, agreed to delete certain words and substitute the word `inaudible.' An explanation of how the tapes were made was given to the jury, and the tapes and transcripts were admitted; it is undisputed that the tapes played to the jury contained no deletions, splices or additions. Carson, 464 F.2d at 437. After the Court is satisfied with the accuracy of the transcripts, the Court must decide how the transcripts are to be used, if at all. It is well recognized that accurate typewritten transcripts of sound recordings, used contemporaneously with the introduction of the recordings into evidence are admissible to assist the jury in following the recordings while they are being played. Turner, 528 F.2d at 167. In fact, in Turner, the jury members were permitted to use the transcript as a listening aid in accordance with a carefully followed procedure. ...Before the playing of each of the taped conversations, each juror was given a copy of the appropriate corrected transcript. The transcripts were kept face down until the playing of the conversation had commenced and, at its conclusion, were immediately collected. In addition, the district court gave a cautionary instruction to the effect that only the recordings were evidence of the conversations; that the transcripts were provided merely to facilitate listening; and that each juror should, if he or she felt there was a difference between the two, pay attention to [his or her] own senses and judgment as to what the recording does say. Later, after the jury deliberations had begun, the jury requested by note that certain conversations be replayed, and several jurors asked in open court to use the transcripts during the replay. The court granted the request, following the same procedure as before, and again with the specific admonition that only the recordings, not the transcripts, were evidence of the conversations. Turner, 528 F.2d at 167. (emphasis added). In Carson, the Court went further than Turner and held that it was not an abuse of discretion for the trial court to admit the tapes and transcripts into evidence and to allow the jury to retain the transcripts during the trial and during their deliberations. Carson, 464 F.2d 424. When original tape recordings are properly introduced into evidence, transcriptions of those recordings may also be received into evidence with the exercise of judicial discretion. In the exercise of its discretion, the trial court should take into consideration the various factors that we have already outlined. Initially the Court must satisfy itself that the transcripts are accurate. In the absence of an agreement between the parties concerning the accuracy of the transcripts, the court may properly consider the use of transcripts that contain the version of the tape recording believed to be accurate by each party. Id. The Court may also properly exercise its discretion in deciding how, if at all, the transcripts are to be used. We note that the use of accurate transcripts as a listening aid may often be helpful to jurors if the tape recording is long or difficult to hear. A court may permit the jury to retain the transcripts during the trial and their deliberations. However, the probative value of the retention of the transcripts during trial and during deliberations should be weighed against the normal prohibitions on cumulative evidence and improper emphasis. If the transcripts are needed for any purpose, the jury must be carefully instructed concerning the use of the transcripts and must specifically be instructed that the tape recording and not the transcript is the evidence of the conversation. In both Turner and Carson, the instructions by the trial court to the jury were found to be particularly significant. At Atkins' trial, not only were the transcripts admitted instead of the tape recordings despite challenges to their accuracy, but no specific instructions concerning the use of the transcript were given to the jury. When the State concluded its case, at least four separate transcripts had been introduced into evidence. The transcripts were received into evidence without the original tape recordings from which they were made, as independent evidence of the conversations reflected on the tape recordings. After the transcripts were introduced and received as independent evidence of the various conversations, the transcripts were used by the State for the purpose of examining its own witnesses directly and for an extensive cross-examination of the defendant Atkins when he testified in his own behalf. The use of the transcripts during Atkins' trial highlights the need for the exercise of judicial discretion even in circumstances when the admission of transcripts would be proper and the further need for the exercise of judicial control after the proper admission of transcripts. We find that it was contrary to D.R.E. 1002 to admit into evidence transcripts to prove the contents of tape recorded conversations in lieu of the original tape recordings which were in existence and available.