Hawaii Statutes, Rules, and Professional Regulation
Domain 3 tests the Hawaii statutes, court rules, and regulatory structure that govern court reporters. Expect questions on certification, the oath, transcript production, appellate deadlines, deposition rules, fees, and retention. The exam favors rule names and procedural consequences over broad policy statements.
Regulatory framework
- HRS chapter 606 is the court reporter statute; it establishes reporter duties and the certification framework.
- Certification as a certified shorthand reporter (CSR) is required for official court reporting; the Board of Certified Shorthand Reporters and the Judiciary administer examination, licensure, and discipline under HRS chapter 606 and court rules.
- Transcript fees and format for official transcripts are controlled by court rule and fee schedules, not private negotiation.
- Notes and records must be retained as required; do not destroy them while an appeal or post-conviction proceeding is possible.
Key rules
- HRAP Rule 10: the appellant orders the transcript; the reporter prepares, certifies, and files it by the rule's deadline. If no transcript can be produced, the statement-of-evidence procedure applies.
- HRCP Rule 30: deposition oath, objections, witness review, certification, and use under Rule 32.
- HRE: evidence objections and rulings; the reporter records them but does not decide them.
- Circuit and district court rules: exhibit handling, transcript format, filing, and fees.
Worked example
A notice of appeal is filed and the appellant designates a transcript. The reporter receives the order and must prepare the transcript, certify it, and file it by the rule's deadline. If the appellant fails to pay or order, the reporter should document the failure rather than silently produce nothing. If no transcript can be produced, the parties use the statement-of-evidence procedure. The reasoning: the appellate record is created by rule, not by private agreement.
Traps
- Missing the appellate transcript deadline.
- Certifying a transcript without reviewing the record.
- Charging a rate different from the court's schedule for an official transcript.
- Confusing deposition certification with trial transcript certification.
- Destroying notes too early.