Audio Recording Order Instructions

Revised: 
Tuesday, January 2, 2024

AUDIO RECORDING ORDER INSTRUCTIONS

ORDERING AN AUDIO RECORDING OF A COURT HEARING
A copy of the digital audio recording of a Court hearing held after 2002 is available on a compact disc (CD).  Each CD holds up to approximately 80 minutes of recorded audio and costs $34.00.  If the audio you order does not fit onto one CD this rate is charged for each additional CD.  This fee set by the Judicial Conference of the United States, and must be paid before an audio order request is processed.
 
To order an audio recording of a Court hearing:
  • Parties with an ECF Account: Complete and file an Audio Recording Order Form using the ECF event “Audio CD Request.”  A separate Audio CD Request form must be filed for each hearing date requested.
  • Parties without an ECF Account: Complete and file an Audio Recording Order Form at the intake counter or by mail with the Clerk of Court divisional office where the hearing was held.  The Court does not accept audio recording requests via fax, email or telephone.  A separate Audio Recording Order Form must be completed for each hearing date requested.  This is the only audio order form the Court will accept.
San Francisco
United States Bankruptcy Court
450 Golden Gate Avenue, 18th Floor
Mail Box 36099
San Francisco, California 94102
 
Oakland
United States Bankruptcy Court
1300 Clay Street, Suite 300
Oakland, California 94612
 
San Jose
United States Bankruptcy Court
280 South First Street, Room 3035
San Jose, California 95113
 
Santa Rosa
United States Bankruptcy Court
99 South "E" Street
Santa Rosa, California 95404
 
AUDIO RECORDING PAYMENT, PLAYBACK AND PROCESSING
ECF filers will be prompted to pay when using the CM/ECF docket event Audio CD Request.   
 
For non-ECF filers, the Clerk will accept a money order, a cashier’s check or a check from a non-debtor drawn on a business account, made payable to “Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.”  Personal checks and cash are not accepted.  Additionally, if submitted directly at a Clerk’s divisional office intake counter payment by credit card from a non-debtor is also acceptable.  Do not send credit card information through the mail.  All payments must be in the exact amount of the fee(s) charged.  The Clerk’s Office does not make change.
 
Audio CDs play on many CD-R and CD-RW compatible players, on standard PC media players installed on most computers, including the Windows Media Player, and with Apple/Macintosh (“Mac”) computers.
 
Audio CD requests are ordinarily completed within two business days from receipt of the fee.  The ordering party is notified by telephone or email when the audio request is ready for pick-up at the Clerk’s divisional office.  Alternatively, an audio CD may be delivered by mail if the ordering party provides a self-addressed fully postage-prepaid padded envelope suitable for mailing a CD.
 
COPIES OF COURT HEARING ON AUDIO TAPE
For a limited number of Court proceedings held before 2003, a copy of the audio recording is available on a cassette tape for purchase at the same $34.00 rate.  Before requesting an audio recording of a Court proceeding held before 2003, contact the Clerk’s divisional office where the hearing was held to determine the availability of a Court proceeding recorded on audio tape.    
 
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT SECTION 341(a) MEETING OF CREDITORS
A Meeting of Creditors held pursuant Section 341 of the Bankruptcy Code is not conducted or recorded by the Court. The Court does not keep or provide recorded copies of a Meeting of Creditors.  The Audio Recording Order Form may not be used to request a recording of a Meeting of Creditors.  To request a recording of a Meeting of Creditors visit the U.S. Trustee website.