HI Court Reporter cheat sheet

Real-time writing speed benchmark: the NCRA-certified threshold is 225 words per minute on literary material, 200 wpm on jury charge, and 180 wpm on testimony, each with 95% accuracy or better.

Machine shorthand writes phonetically, not orthographically: a stroke encodes sounds (e.g., PHAOEU for "my"), and the reporter resolves homophones (there/their/they're) during transcription, not during writing.

The 22-key steno keyboard has four vowel keys (A, O, E, U) on the lower row; the asterisk key marks capitalization, and the number bar converts letter keys to digits (e.g., AOEU = 1).

Conflict-free theory requires briefs and phrases to be memorized so that no two distinct words or phrases share a stroke; a conflict must be resolved by adding a distinguishing key, not by context alone.

Transcription turnaround decision rule: ordinary transcripts are typically due within a set number of days fixed by statute or rule; expedited delivery is a negotiated, priced service, not a default obligation.

Proofreading hierarchy: verify speaker attribution and page/line numbering first, then names, numbers, and quoted testimony, then punctuation and formatting; errors in the first group are substantive, the last group cosmetic.

A certified transcript must include the reporter's certificate stating the transcript is a true and accurate record, plus a statement of any requested-but-refused transcription or missing pages.

Colloquy format convention: each new speaker begins a new paragraph preceded by the speaker's name or designation (e.g., "THE COURT:", "MR. KIM:") in uppercase, with questions and answers on separate lines.

On the record, the reporter is a neutral officer of the court: the reporter does not rule on objections, does not interpret silence, and does not summarize; the reporter records spoken words and identifies non-verbal events only as permitted.

Deposition sequence: swear or affirm the witness, state the appearance of all counsel, mark and identify exhibits, then examine; the reporter administers the oath and records the stipulations.

Objections at deposition are recorded verbatim; only "objection, form" and "objection, foundation" type statements are permitted in some jurisdictions, and instructions not to answer are recorded and later ruled upon by the court.

Reading and signing: a witness may waive or reserve signature; if reserved, the reporter submits the transcript to the witness, who must sign within the statutory period, and the reporter certifies the outcome.

In camera and sealed proceedings: the reporter records the proceeding but marks the transcript sealed and does not release it absent a court order; sidebar conferences may be reported only if the judge directs.

Speaker identification in a multi-attorney deposition uses announced appearances; the reporter assigns a consistent designator to each speaker and does not change designators mid-transcript.

Off-the-record periods are noted in the transcript as "(Discussion off the record.)"; anything said during that period is not part of the official record unless the parties stipulate to reopen it.

Exhibit handling: each exhibit is marked with a number or letter, described on the record, and the reporter maintains an exhibit index listing the marking, the sponsoring witness, and any objection.

Hawaii court reporters are regulated under Hawaii Revised Statutes chapter 606; the statute establishes the licensing framework and the powers of the regulating authority over court reporters in the State of Hawaii.

The Hawaii Rules of the Circuit Courts govern the form and filing of transcripts, including page size, line numbering, margins, and the reporter's certificate; a transcript that omits the certificate is defective.

Transcript fees and delivery deadlines in Hawaii are set by statute and court rule rather than by unilateral reporter discretion; a reporter who misses a court-ordered deadline may be subject to sanctions.

Hawaii recognizes both shorthand (machine) reporters and voice writers/electronic reporters in its regulatory scheme; the licensing examination tests speed, accuracy, and knowledge of Hawaii court rules.

Confidentiality obligations flow from Hawaii court rules and the Hawaii Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys; a reporter may be compelled to testify about the record only as the rules permit.

Hawaii's unified court system includes the Supreme Court, Intermediate Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, District Courts, and Family Courts; a reporter's transcript format must match the court in which the case was heard.

Continuing education and license renewal are conditions of continued practice; failure to renew suspends the right to report official proceedings and to certify transcripts.

Per-page and per-copy fee schedules for Hawaii transcripts are prescribed; charging above the prescribed rate for an official transcript is a regulatory violation, not merely a business dispute.

Neutrality rule: the reporter may not accept gifts, gratuities, or favors from a party, attorney, or witness in a case the reporter is covering, because it creates an appearance of partiality.

Conflict-of-interest screening: a reporter declines an assignment when a close relative or business associate is counsel or a party, and discloses the relationship to all counsel before proceeding.

Confidentiality extends beyond the transcript: rough drafts, audio backups, and real-time feeds are confidential work product and may not be shared or sold.

Business decision rule: retain stenographic notes and audio for the retention period required by court rule; destroying them before the appeal period expires can foreclose a reconstruction of the record.

Fee agreements are made with the party ordering the transcript, not with the witness; a reporter may not condition delivery of an official transcript on payment by a non-ordering party where the rules forbid it.

Advertising must be truthful and must not imply official certification, court endorsement, or a specialty the reporter does not hold; unearned certification claims are an ethics violation.

Real-time feed subscribers (judge, counsel) are entitled to the feed only for the proceeding; the reporter controls distribution and may cut a feed used to harass or to publish live.

Error correction protocol: on discovering an error, the reporter issues a corrected page or errata rather than silently altering the original; the original and the correction are both preserved.