Court Reporter Ethics and Professional Responsibility
What this domain tests
This domain tests the duties that attach to a certified shorthand reporter: producing a verbatim and impartial record, protecting the confidentiality of proceedings, working within the scope of the reporter's role, and maintaining the integrity of the certificate. Georgia regulates court reporters through the Board of Court Reporting, and complaints can lead to reprimand, suspension, or revocation of the CSR credential.
Core rules
- Verbatim duty. You record what is said, including grammatical errors, profanity, and damaging admissions. Cleaning up the record is a falsification, not a courtesy.
- Impartiality. You serve the court and the record, not the party who retained you. Transcripts are furnished to all parties on the same terms and at the same rate.
- Confidentiality. Grand jury proceedings, sealed exhibits, and material the court orders sealed are not discussed outside the proceeding.
- Stay in your lane. No legal advice, no predicting outcomes, no coaching a witness or attorney on how to phrase something for the record.
- No ex parte influence. Do not accept instructions from one side about what the transcript should say; corrections come from the court.
- Certificate integrity. Certify only after comparing the transcript to your notes; an error discovered later is handled by errata or a corrected certificate, disclosed to the court.
- Retention. Preserve stenographic notes and audio backup so the record can be verified if challenged.
Worked example
After a deposition, defense counsel asks you to delete a sidebar exchange and to 'fix' a witness's answer that was nonresponsive. The correct response is refusal on both counts: the sidebar was spoken on the record and stays unless the court orders otherwise, and a nonresponsive answer is reported as given. If the court later orders material stricken, the transcript shows the colloquy and the ruling rather than a silent deletion. Reasoning: the reporter has no authority to determine what the record contains, only to record it accurately.
Traps that cost marks
- 'Cleaning up' testimony or grammar, which is falsification.
- Discussing testimony with counsel or the press after the proceeding.
- Accepting a bonus, gift, or fee arrangement tied to a favorable transcript.
- Reporting a case in which a family member is counsel or a party without disclosure.
- Signing a certificate without a genuine line-by-line comparison.