CSR Documentation & Record Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a court reporter receives a subpoena duces tecum for transcripts, what is the primary obligation?
- Destroy the records immediately
- Produce the requested records as specified in the subpoena (Correct answer)
- Notify only the hiring attorney
- Transfer all records to the court clerk
Correct answer: Produce the requested records as specified in the subpoena
A subpoena duces tecum legally compels the reporter to produce specified records, and failure to comply can result in contempt of court.
Question 2: Which element is NOT typically required on a transcript certification page?
- Reporter's name and CSR number
- Date of proceeding
- Reporter's home address (Correct answer)
- Statement of oath administration
Correct answer: Reporter's home address
A reporter's home address is personal information not required on the certification page; name, credential number, and procedural details are standard.
Question 3: In what format must a court reporter maintain their stenographic notes under most state regulations?
- Only digital format
- Only paper printouts
- In whatever format the hiring agency requires
- In a form that allows accurate transcription if needed (Correct answer)
Correct answer: In a form that allows accurate transcription if needed
Notes must be preserved in a retrievable form that permits accurate transcription, whether digital or paper, per most state CSR regulations.
Question 4: A reporter is asked to provide a rough draft transcript before the final certified version. What disclaimer must typically accompany the rough draft?
- That it is attorney work product
- That it has not been proofread or certified and is not the official record (Correct answer)
- That it is confidential and cannot be shared
- That it must be destroyed after 24 hours
Correct answer: That it has not been proofread or certified and is not the official record
Rough drafts must be clearly marked as uncertified and unofficial so parties do not rely on them as the record of proceedings.
Question 5: When indexing exhibits attached to a deposition transcript, the reporter should:
- Number them sequentially regardless of which party introduced them (Correct answer)
- Index them only if the judge orders it
- Attach originals only and discard copies
- Number them using the same system as the court file
Correct answer: Number them sequentially regardless of which party introduced them
Exhibits are indexed sequentially in the order introduced, providing a clear reference system for the transcript record.
Question 6: What does the term 'real-time record' refer to in court reporting?
- A transcript delivered within one hour
- Instantaneous translation of stenographic keystrokes to readable text on a screen (Correct answer)
- A video recording synchronized with the transcript
- A transcript with timestamps every five minutes
Correct answer: Instantaneous translation of stenographic keystrokes to readable text on a screen
Real-time reporting uses CAT software to instantly translate stenographic notes into readable text displayed simultaneously during proceedings.
Question 7: If a certified transcript contains a typographical error discovered after delivery, the reporter should:
- Issue an errata sheet or amended certification noting the correction (Correct answer)
- Ignore it since the transcript is already certified
- Ask the hiring attorney to make the correction
- Shred the original and issue a completely new transcript
Correct answer: Issue an errata sheet or amended certification noting the correction
An errata sheet or amended certification documents corrections while maintaining the integrity of the original certified transcript.
CSR Documentation & Record Management 2
When a court reporter receives a subpoena duces tecum for transcripts, what is the primary obligation?