CSR Documentation & Record Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, within how many days after a deposition must the deponent be allowed to review and sign the transcript if requested?
- 7 days
- 14 days
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 60 days
Correct answer: 30 days
FRCP Rule 30(e) allows the deponent 30 days to review the transcript and make changes in form or substance after notification of transcript availability.
Question 2: When a reporter seals a deposition transcript per court order, what does this mean?
- The transcript is encrypted digitally
- The transcript is physically or electronically secured so only authorized parties may access it (Correct answer)
- The transcript is destroyed after 90 days
- The transcript must be stored at the courthouse
Correct answer: The transcript is physically or electronically secured so only authorized parties may access it
Sealing a transcript restricts access to authorized individuals and protects sensitive or confidential information from public disclosure.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a read-and-sign waiver in a deposition?
- It waives the deponent's right to an attorney during questioning
- It allows the deponent to skip answering certain questions
- It waives the deponent's right to review and correct the transcript before it is certified (Correct answer)
- It waives the filing fee for the transcript
Correct answer: It waives the deponent's right to review and correct the transcript before it is certified
A read-and-sign waiver means the deponent gives up the right to review and make corrections to the transcript before the reporter certifies it.
Question 4: In multi-volume transcripts, how should page numbering typically be handled?
- Each volume restarts at page 1
- Numbering runs consecutively across all volumes (Correct answer)
- Only odd numbers are used to allow for corrections
- Volumes use Roman numerals instead of Arabic
Correct answer: Numbering runs consecutively across all volumes
Consecutive pagination across volumes allows attorneys and courts to cite any page by a unique number without specifying volume.
Question 5: Which record is a court reporter NOT required to maintain according to standard CSR obligations?
- Stenographic notes from proceedings
- Signed stipulations entered on the record
- Billing records for their personal accounting (Correct answer)
- Certificates of transcription
Correct answer: Billing records for their personal accounting
Personal billing records are a business matter for the reporter's own use and are not part of the official reporting record maintenance obligations.
Question 6: When a deposition is conducted via videoconference, the court reporter should:
- Refuse to certify because it was not in person
- Certify only the video file, not a written transcript
- Report and certify the transcript the same as an in-person proceeding (Correct answer)
- Require all parties to re-appear in person to finalize the record
Correct answer: Report and certify the transcript the same as an in-person proceeding
Remote depositions have the same legal standing as in-person ones, and the reporter certifies the transcript using standard procedures.
Question 7: What information is typically included in a reporter's 'job log' or 'appearance record'?
- Only the names of attorneys present
- Case name, date, location, parties, and hours worked (Correct answer)
- Only information the hiring agency specifies
- Confidential information from the proceeding
Correct answer: Case name, date, location, parties, and hours worked
A job log documents the basic facts of each engagement—case, date, location, parties—for the reporter's professional records and potential future reference.
CSR Documentation & Record Management 3
Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, within how many days after a deposition must the deponent be allowed to review and sign the transcript if requested?