Communication & Stakeholder Relations Flashcards

A party who was not present at a deposition requests a copy of the transcript. The reporter should:

Answer: Decline and advise the party to seek access through the ordering attorney or court process

Deposition transcripts are not automatically public records, and reporters should direct non-party requests through proper legal channels.

During a high-profile trial, a journalist contacts the court reporter to ask for advance access to the daily transcript before it is filed. The reporter should:

Answer: Decline and explain that transcripts must follow established distribution procedures

Reporters must follow established procedures for transcript distribution and cannot provide advance or preferential access to any outside party.

An attorney becomes combative and verbally abusive toward the reporter during a deposition over a readback request. The most appropriate response is to:

Answer: Calmly but firmly explain your professional role and, if necessary, suspend the proceeding

Reporters are professionals who can address misconduct calmly and are permitted to suspend a proceeding if abusive behavior continues to impede their duties.

A witness requests to review her own transcript and make substantive changes to the testimony. Under typical deposition procedures, the reporter should:

Answer: Provide a signature page or errata sheet for the witness to note changes

Witnesses are typically afforded the opportunity to review and note changes via an errata sheet, which is attached to but does not replace the original transcript.

A court reporter receives a subpoena for her stenographic notes from a proceeding. She should:

Answer: Comply with the subpoena and produce the notes as directed

A valid subpoena requires compliance; the reporter should produce her notes as directed, potentially consulting an attorney about the scope of the request.

During a deposition, both attorneys agree to go off the record to conduct a settlement discussion. The reporter should:

Answer: Stop recording immediately once both parties agree and note the time off the record

When all parties agree to go off the record, the reporter stops recording and should note the time the record was suspended and subsequently resumed.

A party's in-house counsel who did not retain the reporter attempts to direct the reporter to exclude certain testimony from the transcript. The reporter should:

Answer: Decline and explain that the transcript must reflect everything on the record

No party, regardless of their relationship to the witness, has authority to direct the reporter to omit on-the-record testimony from the certified transcript.