Va. Sup. Ct. R. 8:11

Any party has the right to have a court reporter present to take down or record the

proceedings. In all proceedings not open to the public it is within the sound discretion of the

judge as to whether a court reporter may take down or record the proceedings on behalf of a

person not a party. In all other proceedings, any person not a party may bring a court reporter to

take down the proceedings. Court reporters, when present, must be first duly sworn to take down

and transcribe the proceedings faithfully and accurately to the best of their ability and are subject

to the control and discipline of the judge.

In proceedings open to the public, when a court reporter is present and takes down or

records the proceeding, any interested person is entitled to obtain a transcript, unless the court

records remain confidential pursuant to § 16.1-305. In proceedings not open to the public, when

a court reporter is present and takes down or records the proceeding, a party is entitled to obtain

a transcript without prior court order, but the court may limit the circulation of the transcript by a

party. In such proceedings not open to the public, other than (i) proceedings closed for good

cause pursuant to subsection C of § 16.1-302 and which result in an adjudication of delinquency

of a juvenile, who was fourteen years or older at the time of the offense, on the basis of an act

which would be a felony if committed by an adult or (ii) proceedings resulting in a subsequent

adjudication of delinquency as described in subsection B1 of § 16.1-305, all other interested

persons are entitled to a transcript by order of court stating for whom such transcript is prepared

and what restrictions, if any, are imposed on the use and distribution of the transcript, its contents

or any part. In delinquency proceedings which are closed for good cause pursuant to subsection

C of § 16.1-302 and which result in an adjudication of delinquency of a juvenile, who was

fourteen years or older at the time of the offense, on the basis of an act which would be a felony

if committed by an adult, when a court reporter is present and takes down or records the

proceeding, any interested person is entitled to a transcript, except for those transcripts or

portions of transcripts which the judge has ordered to remain confidential pursuant to subsection

B1 of § 16.1-305. In proceedings resulting in an adjudication of delinquency which is subsequent

to a prior adjudication of delinquency of a juvenile who was fourteen years or older at the time of

the prior offense and whose prior adjudication was on the basis of an act which would be a

felony if committed by an adult, when a court reporter is present and takes down or records the

proceeding, any interested person is entitled to obtain a transcript, except for those transcripts or

portions of transcripts which the judge has ordered to remain confidential pursuant to subsection

B1 of § 16.1-305.

The proceedings may be taken down by means of any recording device approved by the

court.