Opinion ID: 474874
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Government Transcripts of Recordings.

Text: 97 Allen argues that the district court erred in refusing to make an in-camera determination as to the accuracy of the government-prepared transcripts before they were given to the jury. It is within the sound discretion of the trial court to allow a transcript to be used by the jury to assist it in listening to a tape recording. United States v. McMillan, 508 F.2d 101, 104 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 421 U.S. 916, 95 S.Ct. 1577, 43 L.Ed.2d 782 (1974). Because a transcript is intended to be used only as a guide, the jury should be instructed that a transcript is just another piece of evidence subject to objections, that it may have to be evaluated for accuracy, and that the jury need not accept any proffered transcript as accurate. United States v. Onori, 535 F.2d 938, 949 (5th Cir.1976). 98 In Onori, the Fifth Circuit confronted a similar defense argument and held: 99 Given that a transcript is merely another type of evidence, the fallacy in appellant's threshold contention--that the court had to make an in-camera determination of which portions of the proffered transcripts were correct--is obvious. These decisions are precisely the traditional functions of the jury. We conclude that it is unnecessary for the trial court to decide whether a transcript is accurate before that transcript is given to the jury, so long as each side to the dispute is given an opportunity to submit a transcript containing its version of a conversation. 100 Id. at 947-48. 101 In fact, this case demonstrates a concerted effort by the district court and the prosecution to use the tape recordings fairly. For example, the government tapes were made available to counsel for the defendant prior to the trial. The defense did not allege that any crucial, or even particularly important, portions of the tape were inaudible. The defense was given ample time to prepare its version of the conversations recorded on the tapes. Before viewing the transcripts, the jurors were clearly and carefully admonished by the district court that what they heard on the tapes was the evidence they should consider. 6 The transcripts were collected immediately after each particular segment was played. 102 This circuit still clearly prefers the procedure followed in United States v. Dorn, 561 F.2d 1252, 1257 (7th Cir.1977), where the district court conducted a hearing, outside the presence of the jury, to determine the accuracy of the transcripts. However, this procedure is not mandatory when the tape recordings are almost completely audible. We do not reach the issue of what procedures are necessary when a substantial or merely important part of the recording is of questionable quality. Cf. United States v. Robinson, 707 F.2d 872 (6th Cir.1983); United States v. Chiarizio, 525 F.2d 289 (2d Cir.1975). We hold only that in this case the district court implemented sufficient safeguards to assure a fair trial and thus did not abuse its discretion. 103