arshavineroy/pycheck

A Python legal transcript auto-formatter and checklist with a Formation library GUI

PyCheck

Introduction

This is PyCheck! A legal transcript auto-formatter and checklist, inspired by Automate the Boring Stuff with Python by Al Sweigart and Formation library by @ObaraEmmanuel.

Motivation

I have been proofreading legal transcripts manually (~500 pages weekly on average), following specific guidelines. The development of this tool aims to achieve the following:

• Accuracy: Ensure all formatting guidelines are applied correctly, such as adding a colon and two spaces after all speaker IDs in Colloquy and a tab after all Q&As.

• Consistency: Common words like videoconference should be spelled as such throughout the document.

• One-Click functionality: Merge and format the document(s) in one click.

• Ease & Speed: Simplify the time-consuming and tedious process of manual formatting, reducing it to mere seconds.

The use of PyCheck has improved my review scores to 100%.

For a raw sample transcript, see sample.txt and for a PyCheck-formatted document, see final.txt.

🚀 Quick Start

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/ArshavineRoy/pycheck
cd pycheck

2. Create and activate a virtual environment

• To use virtualenv:

  virtualenv venv

• Activation

  # macOS and Linux
  
  source venv/bin/activate
  
  # Windows
  
  venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install required dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Run PyCheck

python app.py

5. Click Open and load raw sample.txt in the project's root folder

sample.txt in its entirety is a FULLY FICTIONAL deposition transcipt that serves as a file you might have to proofread, with deliberate mistakes included to demonstrate the power of PyCheck!

📖 Usage

PyCheck has the following perks out of the box:

• Text color for different scenarios to easily differentiate between examination headings, by-lines, Colloquy, QA, and parentheticals.

• Highlights any inconsistencies in QA examinations. This way, you won't have any Qs following each other. The order should be Q-A-Q-A-Q-A not Q-Q-Q-A-Q-A.

• Edit to fix any mistakes in-app, save as a new file or copy-paste when done.

• A refresh button to re-run the checklist instead of loading the file every time.

• Highlights and formats all instances of strike that, just in case.

  When an attorney says, "Strike that," the statement that follows MUST start on a new line.

• Highlights the beginning of different files, in case you're loading several parts.

  To demonstrate, duplicate sample.txt and select both files when uploading. Note: The files are alphabetically ordered.

Miscellaneous

Let's go over some legal jargon:

• Q&A Examination: this is when a witness is being questioned. The questioning is usually done by an attorney, but it is sometimes done by an investigator on behalf of an insurance company, a detective, etc. During testimony, "Q" is the examining attorney and "A" is the witness.

  RULE: Q. and A. (with periods) should be used with a tab before and after and wrap to the left margin.

  |   Q.  Did you sustain any injuries in that collision?
  |   A.  That’s when I broke my left wrist.
  

• Colloguy: any dialogue that is not part of an examination and, as such, occurs outside of the present line of questioning, e.g., when an attorney speaks to the court reporter.

  In colloquy, the witness is referred to simply as "THE WITNESS," with other participants in the conversation being referred to as MR. or MS. followed by their last name.

  RULE: Colloquy should have two tabs prior to each speaker ID, followed by a colon, and then 2 spaces. The text should wrap to the left margin.

  |       MR. REDDINGTON:  I have no further questions for the witness at this time.
  |       MS. KEEN:  Can we take a break before I begin my cross?
  |       MR. REDDINGTON:  Sure thing.
  |       THE REPORTER:  The time is 11:02 a.m., and we are off the record.    
  

• By-Lines: indicate which speaker speaker the Q represents in Q&A examinations. They are used at the beginning of examinations and when you break from Colloquy back into Q/A and MUST end with a colon.

• Parentheticals: e.g., (Off the record.) are used to describe something that is vital to the proceedings but not necessarily said out loud. These can be all sorts of things, including when a break was taken or when an exhibit was marked.

  RULE: Parentheticals should be on a line by themselves, preceded by two tabs.

  |       THE REPORTER:  The time is 11:02 a.m., and we are off the record.
  |       (Off the record.)
  |       THE REPORTER: We are back on the record. The time is 11:05 a.m.  
  

Author & License

Author - Arshavine Waema.

Licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.