CSR Legal & Courtroom Procedures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a witness invokes the Fifth Amendment during a deposition, what must the court reporter do?
- Stop the deposition immediately
- Record the invocation verbatim in the transcript (Correct answer)
- Leave a blank space and note the refusal
- Ask the attorney to rephrase the question
Correct answer: Record the invocation verbatim in the transcript
The reporter must transcribe the witness's Fifth Amendment invocation verbatim just like any other testimony.
Question 2: A 'motion in limine' is filed to:
- Request a continuance before trial
- Exclude certain evidence or testimony before it is presented at trial (Correct answer)
- Add a new party to the lawsuit
- Compel a witness to appear for deposition
Correct answer: Exclude certain evidence or testimony before it is presented at trial
A motion in limine asks the court to prohibit specific evidence or arguments from being presented to the jury.
Question 3: During voir dire, jurors are questioned primarily to:
- Practice courtroom procedure for new attorneys
- Determine potential bias and select an impartial jury (Correct answer)
- Review the evidence presented by both sides
- Swear in all courtroom personnel
Correct answer: Determine potential bias and select an impartial jury
Voir dire is the jury selection process used to identify and remove potentially biased jurors.
Question 4: What does the term 'sidebar' refer to in courtroom proceedings?
- The stenographer's workstation
- A private conference between the judge and attorneys at the bench (Correct answer)
- The area reserved for the jury foreperson
- A written communication submitted to the court
Correct answer: A private conference between the judge and attorneys at the bench
A sidebar is an off-the-record (unless the reporter is invited) conference held at the bench away from the jury.
Question 5: Which document formally notifies a party that a lawsuit has been filed against them?
- Subpoena duces tecum
- Writ of certiorari
- Summons and complaint (Correct answer)
- Notice of deposition
Correct answer: Summons and complaint
A summons and complaint together serve as the initial notice to a defendant that a civil action has commenced.
Question 6: In a criminal trial, 'beyond a reasonable doubt' is the burden of proof required for:
- The defense to prove innocence
- The prosecution to secure a conviction (Correct answer)
- A grand jury to issue an indictment
- The judge to admit evidence
Correct answer: The prosecution to secure a conviction
The prosecution bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal cases.
Question 7: When a court reporter marks an exhibit, what information is typically noted on the exhibit sticker?
- The reporter's personal opinion of the exhibit's relevance
- The exhibit number or letter, case name, and date marked (Correct answer)
- The full address of the witness who introduced it
- The judge's ruling on its admissibility
Correct answer: The exhibit number or letter, case name, and date marked
Exhibit stickers typically include an identifying number or letter, the case name, and the date it was marked for the record.
CSR Legal & Courtroom Procedures 2
When a witness invokes the Fifth Amendment during a deposition, what must the court reporter do?