Heading, date and location
Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Attendance Ledger, a Reporting Period box, and Date and Location columns for each line.
AO 38
Attendance Ledger
- Agency
- U.S. Courts
- Revision
- Rev. 12/15
- Fillable fields
- 308
- Pages
- 1
- Official source
- U.S. Courts form page
- Checked
- October 20, 2026
AO 38: Attendance Ledger
AO 38, Attendance Ledger, is a form headed Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Its instructions say it gives court reporters a simple tracking sheet to help in completing the AO 40A at the end of each reporting period, and that every hour reported on the AO 40A has a corresponding box on the AO 38. The U.S. Courts page lists it under Court Reporter Forms, effective on December 1, 2015, and the PDF is dated Rev. 12/15.
The one-page ledger has a Reporting Period box and one line per date and location. It records hours reporting before a Judge, a Magistrate Judge or Other, each split into official (7d) and substitute (7e) hours with a total, then administrative hours, other duties, two kinds of transcript hours and travel time. The instructions say to record time on the AO 38 to the nearest quarter of an hour rounding up, while the AO 40A is reported to the nearest hour.
This page explains the form in plain words and is not legal advice. You can fill it out free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.
What's on AO 38
7d. Official reporting hours
Hours the reporter attended reporting official proceedings, with set-up, standby and wait time in the courtroom or chambers, but not lunch periods or recesses.
7e. Substitute hours
Hours paid substitutes reported official proceedings, helped with expedited, daily and hourly transcripts, or covered absences for illness, vacation or other reasons.
8a. Admin and 8b. Other Duties
8a covers administrative duties such as billing, docketing transcripts, keeping records, AO reports, training and backing up steno notes. 8b covers other duties the court or clerk's office requires.
9a and 9b. Transcript hours
9a is time transcribing proceedings paid outside the judiciary salary. 9b is other transcribing time, not counting private reporting such as grand jury proceedings and depositions.
10. Travel Time
Hours traveling to and from places of holding court away from the official duty station, computing each trip to the nearest hour, not commuting from home.
How to fill out AO 38
- 1
Enter the period and each date
Fill in the Reporting Period box, then a date and location on each line.
- 2
Round to the quarter hour
The instructions say to record time on the AO 38 to the nearest quarter of an hour rounding up. For 7e they also say to round all hours up to the next whole number.
- 3
Split reporting time
Put hours under Judge, Magistrate Judge or Other, in 7d for the reporter and 7e for paid substitutes. The instructions say not to count waiting for the jury or standby time spent on another task.
- 4
Add non-reporting hours
Enter administrative, other duty, transcript and travel hours in 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b and 10, as the instructions define them.
- 5
Carry the totals to the AO 40A
The fillable PDF totals each reporting group, starting at 0.0. The instructions say the AO 40A is reported to the nearest hour at the end of each reporting period.
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Where it goes, instructions and fees
Where it goes
The form and instructions do not say AO 38 is filed or sent anywhere. The instructions describe it as a tracking sheet to help complete the AO 40A.
Instructions
The U.S. Courts page links Form AO 38 Instructions and Crosswalk to AO 40A, which define each numbered column.
Fees
AO 38 does not print a fee.
Format
The U.S. Courts page offers AO 38 as a PDF under Court Reporter Forms, effective on December 1, 2015.
Related forms
AO 40A
Attendance and Transcripts of United States Court Reporters
117 fields, 2 pages
AO 37
Expense Ledger
750 fields, 1 page
AO 39
Transcript Orders and Collections Ledger
818 fields, 1 page
AO 40B
Statement of Earnings of United States Court Reporters
257 fields, 2 pages
AO 44
Invoice
89 fields, 1 page
CJA 24
Authorization and Voucher for Payment of Transcript
74 fields, 1 page
Who uses AO 38?
The instructions say AO 38 is a tracking sheet for court reporters. They name these people.
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Questions about Form AO 38
What is AO 38 for?
The instructions say it gives court reporters a simple tracking sheet to help in completing the AO 40A at the end of each reporting period, with a box on the AO 38 for every hour reported on the AO 40A.
How is time rounded on AO 38?
The instructions say to record time on the AO 38 to the nearest quarter of an hour rounding up, and to report on the AO 40A to the nearest hour. The 7e definition says to round all hours up to the next whole number.
What do 7d and 7e mean?
7d is the reporter's own hours reporting official proceedings. 7e is the hours of paid substitutes, including help with expedited, daily and hourly transcripts and cover for absences.
Does reporting time include lunch or recesses?
No. The instructions say reporting time does not include lunch periods or recesses, but does include courtroom set-up, standby or wait time in the courtroom or chambers.
What is the difference between 9a and 9b?
9a is time transcribing proceedings for which the reporter received compensation outside the judiciary salary. 9b is other transcribing time, not including private reporting such as grand jury proceedings and depositions.
Does travel time include commuting?
No. Column 10 is time traveling to and from places of holding court away from the official duty station, and the instructions say not to include commuting between residence and duty station.
Is this page legal advice?
No. This page explains the form in plain words and is not legal advice.