CRI Professional Standards & Ethics 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A court reporter finishes a deposition and realizes they did not swear in the witness. The most appropriate immediate action is to:
- Certify the transcript as though the oath was given
- Notify all parties of the omission and arrange to administer the oath or follow counsel's direction (Correct answer)
- Destroy the transcript and reschedule the deposition
- Add a sworn statement to the transcript without informing anyone
Correct answer: Notify all parties of the omission and arrange to administer the oath or follow counsel's direction
Failing to swear in a witness must be disclosed so parties can decide how to remedy the procedural defect.
Question 2: Which of the following is the primary reason NCRA prohibits reporters from providing free transcripts as an inducement to secure future assignments?
- It inflates the cost of litigation for clients
- It constitutes improper solicitation and undermines fair competition (Correct answer)
- It reduces the quality of the transcript produced
- It violates tax reporting requirements
Correct answer: It constitutes improper solicitation and undermines fair competition
Providing free transcripts as kickbacks is an improper solicitation practice that distorts fair market competition.
Question 3: A CRI instructor is evaluating student transcripts and notices a pattern of intentional formatting errors to meet a shorter deadline. The instructor should:
- Accept the transcripts since speed is a core skill
- Address the intentional shortcuts and hold the student to full formatting standards (Correct answer)
- Pass the student but note the issue informally
- Reduce only the formatting grade without addressing the ethical dimension
Correct answer: Address the intentional shortcuts and hold the student to full formatting standards
Intentional shortcuts that sacrifice accuracy and formatting standards must be addressed as both a skills and integrity issue.
Question 4: Under the NCRA Code of Professional Ethics, a reporter who accepts an assignment they are not competent to handle — such as highly technical scientific testimony — is violating the principle of:
- Impartiality
- Confidentiality
- Competence (Correct answer)
- Disclosure
Correct answer: Competence
Accepting assignments beyond one's current skill level violates the competence obligation under NCRA ethics.
Question 5: A student questions a grade given by a CRI instructor. The ethically appropriate first response is to:
- Refuse to discuss grades outside of class time
- Review the work with the student and explain the grading rationale clearly (Correct answer)
- Refer the student immediately to the department chair
- Offer to raise the grade to avoid conflict
Correct answer: Review the work with the student and explain the grading rationale clearly
Transparent communication about grading criteria and rationale is an ethical instructional obligation.
Question 6: A reporter who is also a notary public must ensure that when notarizing a deponent's signature on the errata sheet, they:
- Charge a separate notary fee in addition to the transcript fee
- Act impartially and do not advise the deponent on what changes to make (Correct answer)
- Refuse to notarize to avoid dual-role conflicts
- Obtain written consent from all attorneys before notarizing
Correct answer: Act impartially and do not advise the deponent on what changes to make
When performing a dual role, the reporter-notary must remain neutral and not influence the deponent's choices.
Question 7: Which of the following best characterizes the ethical duty of a CRI regarding continuing education?
- Continuing education is optional and only needed before recertification exams
- CRIs have an ongoing duty to stay current with evolving reporting technology, pedagogy, and ethics (Correct answer)
- Continuing education applies only to technology topics, not pedagogy
- CRIs need only complete continuing education when mandated by their state board
Correct answer: CRIs have an ongoing duty to stay current with evolving reporting technology, pedagogy, and ethics
The CRI designation carries an ongoing obligation to remain current in all areas relevant to effective and ethical instruction.
CRI Professional Standards & Ethics 5
A court reporter finishes a deposition and realizes they did not swear in the witness.
The most appropriate immediate action is to: