2014 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 12. Civil Procedure
§12-3228. Persons before whom depositions may be taken.

A. DEPOSITIONS TAKEN WITHIN OKLAHOMA. Within this state, depositions shall be taken before an officer authorized to administer oaths by the laws of the place where the examination is held, or before a person appointed by the court in which the action is pending. A person so appointed has power to administer oaths and take testimony.

The term officer as used in Sections 3230 through 3232 of this title includes a person appointed by the court or designated by the parties under Section 3229 of this title; except that on and after January 1, 1990, depositions taken within this state shall only be taken by an officer who is either a certified shorthand reporter (CSR) or a licensed shorthand reporter (LSR); provided however, on and after the effective date of this act, any person who was taking depositions by the steno-mask method of reporting within this state prior to January 1, 1990, may continue to take depositions within this state if the person provides to the State Board of Examiners of Official Shorthand Reporters or successor entity of the Board a certification, signed by a judge of the district court and by an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, declaring that the person has taken depositions that were admitted into evidence in any court of this state. The certification shall be submitted within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act to the State Board of Examiners of Official Shorthand Reporters or successor entity of the Board who shall issue said person a certificate as an acting court reporter permitting the person to take depositions or other sworn statements, subpoena witnesses for depositions, issue affidavits in respect to the regular duties of the person, and administer oaths and affirmations with authority equal to that of a notary public.

B. DEPOSITIONS TAKEN OUTSIDE OF OKLAHOMA. Depositions may be taken outside of Oklahoma:

1. On notice before a person authorized to administer oaths in the place in which the examination is held, either by the law thereof or by the law of this state; or

2. Before a person commissioned by the court, and a person so commissioned shall have the power by virtue of his commission to administer any necessary oath and take testimony; or

3. Pursuant to a letter rogatory.

A commission or a letter rogatory shall be issued on application and notice and on terms that are just and appropriate. It is not requisite to the issuance of a commission or a letter rogatory that the taking of the deposition in any other manner is impracticable or inconvenient; and both a commission and a letter rogatory may be issued in proper cases. A notice or commission may designate the person before whom the deposition is to be taken either by name or descriptive title. Evidence obtained in response to a letter rogatory need not be excluded merely for the reason that it is not a verbatim transcript or that the testimony was not taken under oath or for any similar departure from the requirements for depositions taken within this state.

C. DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR INTEREST. No deposition shall be taken before a person who is a relative or employee or attorney or counsel of any of the parties, or is a relative or employee of such attorney or counsel, or is financially interested in the action.

Added by Laws 1982, c. 198, § 5. Amended by Laws 1986, c. 299, § 6, operative July 1, 1986; Laws 1989, c. 129, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 1989. Renumbered from § 3205 of this title by Laws 1989, c. 129, § 14, eff. Nov. 1, 1989. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 1, § 6, emerg. eff. March 10, 1992; Laws 1995, c. 253, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.