Opinion letter to the Honorable Charles M. LeCompt

.JOHN C. DANFORTH ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICES OF THE A'Ji'T({Jf!RNEY GlElNlElltl!AL OJF ~.ff:1U§§OUJR][ JEFli<'ElRSOX CI'Jl'Y February 7, 1973 OPINION LETTER NO. 15 Honorable Charles M. LeCompt Prosecuting Attorney Greene County, Courthouse Springfield, Missouri 65802 Dear Mr. LeCompt: This letter is in response to a request by Mr. Dee Wampler, your predecessor, asking: "For what length of time must an official court reporter preserve official notes taken in past court proceedings? 11 Section 485.050, RSMo 1969, provides: "It shall be the duty of the official court reporter so appointed . . . to preserve all official notes taken in said court for future use or reference, and to furnish to any per- son or persons a transcript of all or any part of said evidence or oral proceedings upon the payment to him of the fee herein provided." (Emphasis supplied) We find no reported cases in Missouri respecting the duration of the preservation of official court notes. We find no authority for the destruction of such noies and therefore we are of the opinion that such notes must be preserved indefinitely. Attorney General