MINNESOTA COURT RULES

GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE

Rule 124.Reporting of Opening Statement and Final Arguments

Opening statements and final arguments shall be reported.

Cross Reference: Minn. R. Civ. P. 39.04, Minn. Civ. Trialbook, section 8.

Task Force Comment - 1991 Adoption

This rule is new. The practice of various courts in reporting opening statements and final arguments has not been uniform. The Task Force strongly recommends that the rules provide for reporting of all opening statements and final arguments so that these portions of the trial proceedings are available for transcription. Most judges now follow this practice. In some cases, parties exercising their right to make a record of these trial proceedings have been presented with bills from the official court reporter for this service. In the absence of an order for a transcript, the Task Force believes no extra charges should properly be made for the mere making of a record of what transpires in the trial court.