When Justice Isn’t Public: The Uphill Fight for Court Records
When we talk about justice, most people think about the trial itself—the evidence, the witnesses, the verdict. But there’s another layer of struggle that doesn’t make the headlines: simply getting access to your own court transcripts. In Howard County, Maryland, this process is anything but straightforward and for Dieneba Traore, this perfectly shows how the system is designed to wear you down.
Here are four major obstacles that Dieneba has encountered in trying to acquire the court transcripts.
1. Format Limitations: Audio Isn’t Enough
Yes, Howard County will sell you an audio recording of your hearing for $25. But here’s the catch: that CD or flash drive isn’t certified. It’s strictly “for verification purposes.” That means Dieneba’s defense can’t use it in an appeal, they can’t cite it in official filings, and they can’t rely on it as an official record.
Think about that. The court captures your trial on a digital system, but instead of making that recording a functional record for your case, they downgrade it to “informational only.” If you actually need something the appellate courts will accept, you’re forced into the costly and slow transcript process. For many defendants, that’s a dead end.
2. Costs and Deposits: Justice Comes With a Price Tag
If you’ve never ordered a transcript before, the sticker shock will floor you. In Howard County, the base rate is $3.00 per page. Add in copies or an electronic version, and the cost jumps even higher. Also, before the transcript is even started, you’re expected to pay a hefty sum up front based on an “estimate.”
For families already drained by attorney fees, fines, and the cost of missing work during trial, these transcript fees are crushing. What’s worse? If the transcript ends up longer than the estimate, you owe the balance before you’ll ever see a page of it. Justice here isn’t free—it’s pay-to-play. The price tag set for the transcript of Dieneba’s trial is currently set to $10,000.
3. Turnaround Variability: Expedited… If You’re Lucky
Maryland rules allow for “expedited delivery” of transcripts, but in practice, it’s hit or miss. In Howard County, you can ask for faster turnaround—say, within 21 days—but it’s not guaranteed. It depends on whether a court reporter has the bandwidth, and even then, you’ll be paying an even steeper per-page fee.
This means timing can make or break your case. Imagine needing the transcript for a crucial appeal deadline, only to be told your request can’t be rushed because the system is backed up. The law says you have a right to appeal—but the logistics of transcript preparation can quietly shut that door before you ever walk through it.
4. Appeals Compliance: A Trap for the Unwary
If you’re appealing in Howard County, ordering the transcript isn’t enough. Maryland Rule 8-411(c) lays out a checklist: you must file the order with the clerk, make sure the original transcript is filed in the court record, and serve a copy on the other side. Miss any one of these steps—even accidentally—and your appeal could be tossed out on a technicality.
It’s the legal equivalent of playing a board game where the rules are written in fine print, hidden in multiple rulebooks, and subject to sudden changes. These requirements create a dangerous trap. You can do everything “right” in spirit and still lose your chance at justice because of a paperwork misstep.
Why This Matters
At the heart of all this is a simple truth: transcripts aren’t a luxury. They’re a basic building block of accountability in the justice system. Yet in Howard County, they’ve become a gatekeeping tool—limited in format, priced out of reach, delayed on a whim, and bound up in technical rules that can crush your appeal before it starts. The judge is set to rule on Dieneba Traore’s retrial decision at the sentencing hearing on September 19, 2025, less than one month away.
Justice shouldn’t hinge on whether someone can afford $3 per page, navigate obscure filing rules, or hope the court reporter isn’t too busy. If the courts record every word, access to those records should be fair, affordable, and reliable. Until that happens, too many victims facing this problem in Howard County will continue to fight uphill battles—long after the gavel comes down.
