Are Court Transcripts Public Record: Access, Availability & Online Removal
Court transcripts - the verbatim written record of what was said during hearings, trials, and depositions - occupy a different position in the public records ecosystem than dockets or case filings. They are generally public record, but they are not routinely posted online. Obtaining a court transcript typically requires a formal request and a fee paid to the court reporter or transcript service. Yet transcripts do appear online in high-profile cases, through news coverage, or when parties publish them. If your transcript has found its way to the internet, understanding your options is essential.
By Anthony WillEst. 2013Published May 27, 2026Read time: 10 min
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Court transcripts are verbatim written records of spoken proceedings - testimony, arguments, rulings, and exchanges - prepared by certified court reporters. They are distinct from other court records: dockets list what happened, transcripts record exactly what was said. Key types include: For more information, visit the US Courts.
Trial transcripts: The complete record of testimony and arguments at trial
Deposition transcripts: Out-of-court sworn testimony (often sealed in civil cases)
Hearing transcripts: Records of pretrial, sentencing, and motion hearings
Grand jury transcripts: Almost always sealed and not publicly available
Are Court Transcripts Public Record?
Yes, with important exceptions. In federal and most state courts, transcripts of open court proceedings are public record - but they are not automatically posted online. To obtain a transcript, you typically must: For more information, visit the PACER.
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Request it through the court clerk or court reporter
Pay a per-page fee (typically $0.90 to $3.65 per page for federal transcripts, varying by state)
Wait for the transcript to be prepared (from days to weeks depending on the case)
Exceptions - transcripts that are not public:
Grand jury proceedings (sealed by law)
In-camera (private) hearings where the judge cleared the courtroom
Sealed proceedings in whole or in part
Deposition transcripts in civil cases (often designated confidential)
Juvenile proceedings and family court matters (typically sealed)
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Court transcripts rarely appear online automatically. They typically reach the internet through: Learn more about court record removal on our blog.
News organizations: High-profile criminal and civil cases - especially celebrity, political, or corporate cases - often result in journalists obtaining and publishing transcripts
Parties publishing them: Litigants or their attorneys sometimes publish transcripts to support public narratives
PACER/CourtListener: In federal cases, transcripts may be uploaded to the court's PACER docket and subsequently indexed by CourtListener
Court websites: Some courts post transcripts of particularly significant proceedings
Removing Court Transcripts from the Internet
If a court transcript appears online, removal options depend on the source. For transcripts on news websites, standard copyright and publication law generally protects the site's right to publish publicly available court records - direct removal is rarely available. For transcripts on PACER/CourtListener, a sealing order is required before a de-indexing request will be honored. For data broker sites that have included transcript excerpts, standard opt-out processes may help. Google de-indexing can be requested for pages displaying sealed or expunged records. Learn more about background check reports on our blog.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are court transcripts public record in the US?
Yes. Transcripts of proceedings held in open court are generally public record in the United States. However, they are not freely accessible online - obtaining a transcript typically requires a request and fee payment to the court or court reporter. Transcripts of sealed proceedings, grand jury sessions, juvenile cases, and in-camera hearings are not public.
How do I get a copy of a court transcript?
Contact the clerk of the court where the case was heard and ask for the transcript of the specific proceeding. You'll need the case number, date of the hearing, and the court reporter's name. Pay the per-page fee. Federal transcript fees range from $0.90 to $3.65 per page depending on turnaround. State fees vary. Transcripts may take days to weeks to produce.
Can court transcripts be removed from Google?
If a court transcript appears on Google, removal depends on the source page. For pages on news sites, direct removal is typically not possible without the site's voluntary cooperation. For pages on PACER or CourtListener, a sealing order is required before a removal request will be honored. Google's Personal Information Removal Tool can be used for pages displaying sealed or expunged records.
Are deposition transcripts public record?
Deposition transcripts in civil cases are often designated confidential by protective order - meaning they are not public record during litigation. If a deposition transcript is filed with the court without a seal, it becomes a court record subject to public access rules. Many civil cases result in deposition transcripts that never enter the public court record because only excerpts are filed as exhibits.
Are grand jury transcripts public?
No. Grand jury proceedings are secret by law in federal courts and in most states. Grand jury transcripts are sealed and generally cannot be disclosed. Limited exceptions exist - for example, a judge may unseal portions if a defendant can show a particularized need that outweighs the interests in grand jury secrecy. Grand jury transcripts very rarely become publicly available.