Q: Depositions in California
I am a pro se litigant in California w/ a federal case in the Superior Court. I am ready to do depositions. Do I absolutely need a court reporter or per Federal Rule 30 can I record via audiovisual or audio and have a notary public administer the oath? Thank you.
A:
As a pro se litigant you are held to the same standards as an attorney. You need an attorney because you obviously don't understand Civil Procedure. You are NOT in a "federal case in the Superior Court." because the Superior Court is a state court not a Federal Court. If you want the deposition to be valid and useable, you need to go with the standard procedure of having a court reporter to take down and transcribe the proceedings. If you try to proceed some other way, the other side will object and could invalidate the deposition, or they will just not attend.
Justia disclaimers below, incorporated herein.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
