Opinion ID: 2587349
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: costs to be imposed

Text: ¶ 30 The Bar has asked this Court to assess costs totaling $2,370.36. Of that amount, $2,054.50 represents transcript expenses. Respondent has objected to $859.50 of the requested transcript expenses as beyond that allowed by title 20, section 106.4(b) of the Oklahoma Statutes. That section provides: Upon request of either party in a civil or criminal case the reporter shall transcribe the proceeding, in a trial or other judicial proceeding, or so much as may be requested by the party, certify to the correctness of the transcript, and deliver the same in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court. The fee for an original transcript shall be Two Dollars and fifty cents ($2.50) per page. Two copies of the original transcript shall be furnished without additional charge . . . . Respondent argues that this provision limits the amount of costs for transcription of a bar disciplinary proceeding to $2.50 per page. ¶ 31 Section 106.4 applies to official court reporters. The $2.50 per page is in addition to the salary and benefits they are paid by the state. See Okla. Stat. tit. 20 § 106.9 (Supp.2000). The statute does not apply to freelance court reporters such as those utilized in this bar disciplinary proceeding. However, a reduction of the costs to be assessed against Respondent is appropriate for another reason. ¶ 32 Of the numerous allegations in the three-count complaint, the Bar proved only one by clear and convincing evidence. Rule 6.16 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings, Okla. Stat. tit. 5, ch.1, app. 1-A (1991), provides that [w]here discipline results, the cost of the investigation, the record, and disciplinary proceedings shall be surcharged against the disciplined lawyer unless remitted in whole or in part by the Supreme Court for good cause shown. Costs to be assessed against Respondent are therefore reduced to $790.12, to be paid within ninety days of the effective date of this opinion.