IA Court Reporter flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Stenographic keyboard banks

The writer's keyboard has a left-hand consonant bank, a thumb-operated vowel bank, and a right-hand consonant bank; keys struck together produce one syllable or brief.

Brief in stenography

A memorized single-stroke or short outline that translates to a full word or phrase, stored in the reporter's personal dictionary to increase speed and real-time accuracy.

Untranslate rate

The percentage of strokes the CAT software cannot map to words; a high rate slows real-time output and signals dictionary gaps or misstrokes needing correction.

Job dictionary

A case-specific list of names, terms, and spellings loaded into the CAT software before a proceeding so unusual vocabulary translates correctly during real time.

Comma splice

An error in which two independent clauses are joined only by a comma; correct it with a semicolon, a period, or a coordinating conjunction such as "and" or "but."

Restrictive versus nonrestrictive clause

A restrictive clause identifies which noun is meant and takes no commas; a nonrestrictive clause adds parenthetical information and is set off by commas.

Affect versus effect

"Affect" is usually a verb meaning to influence; "effect" is usually a noun meaning result. Confusing them is a common transcript error.

Quotation mark punctuation

In American style, periods and commas are placed inside closing quotation marks, while colons and semicolons are placed outside them.

Verbatim transcription standard

Reproducing every spoken word, including false starts, repetitions, and slang, without editing the speaker's grammar, unless the governing style guide permits cleanup.

Inaudible marking

A consistent notation such as "[inaudible]" placed where speech cannot be understood, ideally with a timestamp or page-line reference so parties can locate the gap.

Reading notation

A parenthetical such as "(reading)" or "(reading from document)" indicating the witness is reading text aloud rather than speaking spontaneously.

Interpreter rendition rule

The reporter transcribes the interpreter's English rendition of foreign-language testimony; the original-language words are not transcribed unless separately translated and certified.

Voir dire

Either the questioning of prospective jurors to test impartiality or a preliminary examination of a witness's competence to testify; context determines which sense applies.

Proffer

An offer of proof made by counsel, often outside the jury's presence, describing what excluded evidence would have shown; it is transcribed when made on the record.

Stare decisis

The doctrine that courts follow precedent from higher courts in the same jurisdiction; reporters need not interpret it but must spell case names accurately.

Deposition defined

Sworn out-of-court testimony taken during discovery, recorded by a court reporter, usable at trial for impeachment or when the witness is unavailable.

Reserved objection

At deposition, counsel states an objection concisely and reserves it for trial except as to form; the reporter records the objection and question, not argument.

Deposition stipulations

Agreements read into the record, such as waiving the witness's signature or extending the signing period; they are transcribed and bind the agreeing parties.

Reporter's oath administration

The reporter administers the oath or affirmation to the witness, notes on the record which form was used, and confirms the witness agreed to it.

Twenty-five line page

The standard transcript page has 25 numbered lines, with line numbers 1 through 25 printed in the left margin and page numbers per the governing rule.

Reporter's certification page

A signed statement that the transcript is a true and correct record of the proceedings, including the date, the reporter's name, and license or CSR number where required.

Q and A format

Examination is transcribed with each speaker's name capitalized followed by a colon, using "Q" for examining counsel and "A" for the witness.

Errata sheet

A separate list of corrections to a deposition transcript, typically prepared by the witness within a set period; it does not alter the certified transcript itself.

Neutral officer principle

The reporter serves the court and all parties equally, producing an accurate record regardless of which side the testimony favors, and never advocates for a party.

Grand jury secrecy

Grand jury proceedings are confidential by rule; the reporter may not disclose testimony or exhibits outside authorized channels without a court order.

Conflict of interest disclosure

A reporter with family, financial, or prior representation ties to a party must disclose the conflict and resolve it before the proceeding begins.

Sealed record handling

Material under a protective order or seal is stored, transmitted, and delivered only through authorized channels, with access limited to persons entitled to it.

Encryption at rest and transit

Protecting transcripts and audio with AES-256 encryption on storage and TLS in transit; sending sealed material as unencrypted email attachments is a breach risk.

Three-two-one backup rule

Keep three copies of data on two different media types with one copy offsite, and test restoration periodically rather than assuming backups work.

Secure destruction documentation

Cross-cut shredding or certified data wiping of records at the end of the retention period, recorded with a certificate of destruction for audit purposes.

Chain of custody for audio

Documentation of who handled a recording and when, supported by hashes and timestamps, so the authenticity of the file can be demonstrated later.

Multi-factor authentication

Requiring two or more independent credentials, such as a password plus a one-time code, to access CAT software, cloud storage, and delivery portals holding transcripts.