CSR Professional Standards & Ethics 3

Question 1

A court reporter learns that an attorney who regularly retains her services is under investigation for fraud. What is her ethical obligation regarding pending assignments?

Accepted Answer

Evaluate whether a conflict of interest exists and withdraw if her impartiality is compromised

Answer

The reporter must assess whether the situation creates a conflict that compromises impartiality and withdraw from affected assignments only if it does.

Question 2

An attorney instructs a court reporter to omit a witness's answer from the transcript because the attorney believes it was made after the question was properly objected to. The reporter should:

Accepted Answer

Record all statements made on the record, including the disputed answer

Answer

The reporter's duty is to create a verbatim record of everything stated on the record; altering the transcript based on an attorney's instruction violates professional ethics.

Question 3

What must a court reporter disclose before accepting a deposition assignment under standard professional ethics rules?

Accepted Answer

Any financial relationship or personal connection to a party or attorney that could affect impartiality

Answer

Prior to accepting an assignment, a reporter must disclose any relationship with a party or attorney that could create a conflict of interest.

Question 4

A court reporter is asked to provide 'rough draft' realtime transcript to only one attorney during a deposition while denying access to opposing counsel. This practice is:

Accepted Answer

Prohibited because it gives one side an unfair advantage

Answer

Providing realtime access exclusively to one party violates impartiality; realtime feeds must either be available to all parties or to none.

Question 5

A party contacts a court reporter after a deposition and requests that a portion of the transcript be 'tightened up' to remove verbal stumbles before delivery. The reporter should:

Accepted Answer

Refuse because the verbatim record must not be altered at a party's request

Answer

Court reporters must produce a verbatim transcript; editing testimony at a party's request — even to remove stumbles — violates the duty of accuracy.

(CSR) Certified Shorthand Reporter Practice Test

(CSR) Certified Shorthand Reporter Practice Test

CSR Professional Standards & Ethics 3