Professional Responsibility, Ethics, Confidentiality, and Compliance
The duties
The reporter is an officer of the court whose product is evidence. Core duties: accuracy and completeness, impartiality and the appearance of impartiality, confidentiality, and competence. Certify only what you actually heard; never summarize, embellish, or delete. If it is not in the record, it is not in the transcript - and if it is in the record, the transcript reflects it.
Confidentiality reaches further than the courtroom: grand jury proceedings, sealed and in camera matters, juvenile records, protective orders, and deposition testimony subject to a confidentiality stipulation. Do not discuss testimony outside the proceeding, and secure notes, audio, and digital files. Modern practice adds data-security obligations - encryption, access controls, and safe transmission.
Conflicts and boundaries
Decline employment where you have a financial interest in the outcome or a close relationship with a party; do not accept contingent fees or referral payments; do not give legal advice to any party or witness; avoid ex parte discussion of substance with the judge. Follow your jurisdiction's rules on retention of notes and stenographic records, continuing education, and reporting of improper conduct. In depositions, respect read-and-sign procedures and never let counsel edit substance under the guise of correction.
Trap: a tempting scenario where an attorney asks you to "leave that out" or to strike testimony. Only the court's instruction changes the record, and even then the ruling is marked, not erased.
Rule of thumb: when in doubt, put it in the record with a parenthetical rather than out of it.
Worked example: a witness volunteers an explanation after "off the record" is announced. Mark the segment, then record that no testimony was taken during that period.