IN JULY, 1976, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS RECOMMENDED THAT ELECTRONIC RECORDING EQUIPMENT BE PROCURED FOR RECORDING COURT PROCEEDINGS. THE CONCEPT OF USING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT EXCLUSIVELY AS A METHOD OF RECORDING COURT PROCEEDINGS IS NEW TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY AND HAS, THUS, REQUIRED THIS INDEPTH STUDY OF EXISTING PROJECTS IN THE UNITED STATES, EVALUATION OF EQUIPMENT, DRAFTING OF RULES AND REGULATIONS, ESTABLISHING TECHNICAL AND SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT COURTS, SUBMISSION OF REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS, REVIEW OF RESPONSES BY THE EVALUATING COMMITTEE, AND A FINAL RECOMMENDATION BY THE COMMITTEE. THE TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED WERE SELECTION, PROCUREMENT, INSTALLATION, TRAINING PERSONNEL, AND OPERATION. A PROPOSAL FOR A METHOD OF IMPLEMENTING THE MECHANICAL RECORDING EQUIPMENT IN THE COURTS IS PRESENTED WITH A PHASE BY PHASE WORKPLAN. PORTABLE EQUIPMENT WAS RECOMMENDED. THIS STUDY ALSO CONDUCTED A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF STATES ALREADY USING SOUND EQUIPMENT. IN THIS SURVEY THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT USED, THE KIND OF TRANSCRIPTION PROVIDED, AND EQUIPMENT EVALUATIONS WERE DETERMINED FOR EACH STATE USING SOUND EQUIPMENT. OBSERVATIONS OF ONSITE VISITS AND ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT OF LEASING THE EQUIPMENT ARE ALSO PRESENTED. THE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR DISTRICT COURT RECORDING PROCEDURES ARE OUTLINED, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS FOR THE CONTRACT. A CONTRACT WAS AWARDED AS A RESULT OF THIS STUDY. REFERENCES, TABLES, AND FIGURES ARE PROVIDED. (MLC)