The four rule sets every officer must know
FRCP, state civil procedure, local rules, standing orders — and the hierarchy among them.
Why this matters more than equipment
Most legal videographers worry about the wrong things. They obsess over the camera. They benchmark microphones. Meanwhile, the most expensive mistakes — disqualified records, sanctioned conduct, lost bookings — come from rule violations, not gear failures.
Rule set one — the FRCP
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure govern federal civil practice. Rule 28 controls Officer eligibility. Rule 30 controls how depositions are taken. Rule 32 controls how depositions are used at trial. If you're working federal civil, these are non-negotiable.
Rule set two — state civil procedure
Each state has its own rules of civil procedure. Most are FRCP-derived but diverge in places that matter — court reporter requirements, notice periods, witness review windows. The CDVS course covers the federal pattern; state-specific divergences are flagged in the curriculum and tracked in the quarterly briefing.
Rule set three — local rules
Each federal district and most state courts publish local rules that supplement (and occasionally contradict) the higher-level rules. The Eastern District of Texas, for instance, has standing orders that affect how exhibits are handled at deposition. You read the local rules before every new venue.
Rule set four — standing orders
Individual judges issue standing orders — sometimes case-specific, sometimes courtroom-specific. They take precedence over local rules when they conflict, and they govern things you can't get from the formal rules: which exhibits go on the record, how breaks are handled, what the judge expects on a transcript designation.
How to read them in conflict
When two rules conflict, the order is: standing order > local rules > state or federal rules of civil procedure > rules of evidence. The CDVS course works through five common conflict patterns and the resolution for each.
What to do before every new venue
Check the local rules. Check the standing orders. Confirm with the noticing attorney. Document what you confirmed and from whom. The five-minute pre-deposition rule check has saved every working member from at least one expensive mistake.
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