CER CER Transcript Certification & Legal Compliance 2

Question 1

How long are electronic court reporters in most US jurisdictions typically required to retain the original recording media after a proceeding?

Accepted Answer

At least 1 year, with many jurisdictions requiring longer retention periods defined by court rules or statute

Answer

30 days

Answer

6 months

Answer

Until the judge closes the case verbally

Question 2

What is the correct way for a CER to handle an 'off the record' instruction from the judge?

Accepted Answer

Pause the official recording immediately and log the time, then resume and log the time when directed back 'on the record'

Answer

Continue recording audio but stop the transcript log

Answer

Delete all audio from the past five minutes to protect off-record statements

Answer

Continue recording and transcribing everything regardless of the judge's instruction

Question 3

Which of the following is a CER legally prohibited from doing under professional ethics codes?

Accepted Answer

Disclosing the contents of a sealed transcript to an unauthorized party

Answer

Charging different expedited transcript fees for rush delivery

Answer

Using digital timestamps to identify specific moments in a recording

Answer

Requesting payment before delivering a certified transcript

Question 4

What must a CER include on the certification page of a deposition transcript under FRCP Rule 30?

Accepted Answer

A statement that the transcript is a true record of the testimony, the reporter's name and certification number, and their signature

Answer

The names of all jurors present at the deposition

Answer

A complete list of all exhibits introduced during the deposition

Answer

The billing invoice for the transcript preparation

Question 5

A CER's recording equipment fails completely during a deposition. What is the reporter's FIRST obligation?

Accepted Answer

Immediately inform all parties and the presiding officer of the failure so the proceeding can be appropriately paused or rescheduled

Answer

Attempt to reconstruct the lost testimony from memory after the session

Answer

Continue the session and note that no recording was made

Answer

Secretly borrow another party's smartphone to record the remainder

Question 6

When a witness reviews a deposition transcript and submits changes via errata sheet, what happens to the original transcript?

Accepted Answer

The errata sheet is filed alongside the original transcript; the original is not altered and both versions become part of the record

Answer

The original is destroyed and replaced with the corrected version

Answer

The reporter must re-record the deposition to reflect the corrections

Answer

The corrections are incorporated silently into the transcript with no notation