AL Court Reporter case studies
AL Court Reporter · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Alabama Certified Court Reporter credential is a state-level certification for professionals who capture the verbatim record of legal proceedings and produce certified transcripts. It is aimed at working and aspiring reporters who take testimony in depositions, hearings, and trials, and who need to demonstrate competence to courts, attorneys, and clients. The examination blends written knowledge with practical skill. Written sections test court reporting procedure and ethics, legal and judicial terminology, English grammar, punctuation and spelling, and medical and technical vocabulary. Topics on this exam: Court Reporting Procedures and Ethics, Legal and Judicial Terminology, English Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling, Medical and Technical Vocabulary, Machine Shorthand Theory and Dictation, and Transcription and Proofreading. The AL Court Reporter case studies are 5 cases and about 2,074 words.
1The Unintelligible Witness and the Court's Directive
During a personal injury trial, the plaintiff's treating physician testifies via video deposition. The audio quality is poor, and the witness speaks with a heavy accent and frequently uses medical jargon.
394 words, about 2 min2The Ambiguous Jury Instruction
During a criminal trial, the judge reads the jury instructions aloud. One instruction states: 'The defendant is charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
473 words, about 2 min3The Run-on Sentence in Testimony
You are transcribing a deposition in a civil lawsuit. The witness, a construction foreman, is describing an accident.
470 words, about 2 min4The Medical Term in a Malpractice Case
You are reporting a medical malpractice trial. A neurosurgeon testifies about a patient who developed a postoperative hematoma.
388 words, about 2 min5The Stenographic Dilemma: Conflict in Briefs
You are a court reporter using machine shorthand. You have a conflict in your personal dictionary: the stroke 'PHAPB' is briefed for both 'manufacturer' and 'manifestation.' During a products liability trial, the witness says: 'The manufacturer knew the product had a latent defect, and the manifestation of that defect occurred within the warranty period.' You must transcribe the testimony accurately.
349 words, about 2 min