ID Court Reporter cheat sheet

Real-time transcription converts stenotype keystrokes to display text through a dictionary; untranslated strokes appear as raw steno and must be resolved before certification.

A certified transcript typically includes a title page, appearances, index, body, and a reporter's certificate stating the transcript is a true and accurate record.

Colloquy format places speaker identification flush left followed by a colon, with the spoken text indented; parentheticals describe non-verbal events such as (Whereupon, the jury entered).

Q and A format: question and answer each begin a new paragraph; consecutive answers by the same witness may be combined only when no question intervenes.

Read-back and playback requests are logged with the page and line reference so the record shows exactly what was repeated to the jury.

Exhibit marking uses sequential numbers for court exhibits and letters for party exhibits; the first reference in the transcript is marked '(Exhibit 1 marked for identification.)'

Transcript page format: 25 numbered lines per page, page numbers on each page, and line numbers used for citing specific testimony.

Audio/video depositions require a synchronization log if the transcript will be used alongside time-coded media in trial.

Burden of proof: 'preponderance of the evidence' applies in most civil cases; 'clear and convincing' in specified civil matters; 'beyond a reasonable doubt' in criminal cases.

Sustained means the objection is upheld and the answer is excluded; overruled means the objection is denied and the answer stands.

Voir dire refers to jury selection and, separately, to the preliminary examination of a witness's qualifications.

A proffer is an offer of proof made outside the jury's presence to preserve an issue for appeal.

Nunc pro tunc means 'now for then' and corrects an order to reflect a previously intended ruling.

Sua sponte means the court acts on its own motion without a party's request.

Res judicata bars relitigation of a claim already decided on the merits; collateral estoppel bars relitigation of a specific issue.

Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted; the rule has numerous enumerated exceptions.

Use an em dash (-) for abrupt breaks in thought and an en dash (–) for ranges; a hyphen joins compound modifiers before a noun (e.g., 'well-known author').

Serial comma is standard in legal writing to prevent ambiguity in lists and enumerations.

Quotation marks enclose exact spoken words; punctuation that is part of the quotation goes inside the closing quote, otherwise outside.

Ellipsis (…) indicates omitted words in a quotation; in transcripts, it also marks a pause or trailing speech.

Subject-verb agreement: collective nouns (jury, court, panel) generally take a singular verb when acting as a unit.

'Who' is used for subjects, 'whom' for objects; 'that' introduces restrictive clauses, 'which' introduces nonrestrictive clauses preceded by a comma.

Commonly confused pairs in legal text: 'principal/principle,' 'counsel/council,' 'statute/statue,' 'assure/ensure/insure.'

Numbers: spell out one through nine and use figures for 10 and above in general prose; always use figures for dates, money, and percentages.

Court reporters must accurately and completely record proceedings; intentional omission or alteration of the record violates ethical duties.

Confidentiality applies to grand jury proceedings, juvenile matters, sealed filings, and in-camera reviews; disclosure requires a court order.

A reporter with a conflict of interest (e.g., financial interest in the outcome, close relationship with a party) must disclose and, if necessary, recuse.

Ex parte communications about a pending case with a judge or party outside the record should be avoided and, if received, disclosed.

Reporters may not give legal advice or interpret testimony; questions about meaning go to the court.

Transcript fees and delivery timelines are governed by statute or court rule; charging for copies beyond the authorized rate can be an ethical violation.

Retention and storage of stenographic notes, audio, and drafts must follow the jurisdiction's retention schedule and secure-handling requirements.

A reporter who observes misconduct (e.g., tampering with exhibits or intimidation of a witness) has a duty to report to the presiding judge.

Idaho's court structure: Supreme Court (highest), Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate), district courts (general jurisdiction), and magistrate division within each district.

Idaho has seven judicial districts; district judges are elected on a nonpartisan basis and serve six-year terms.

The Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure (I.R.C.P.) govern civil practice; the Idaho Rules of Evidence (I.R.E.) govern admissibility and are modeled on the Federal Rules.

Idaho Rules of Appellate Procedure (I.A.R.) govern appeals to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, including briefing deadlines and record designation.

The Idaho Supreme Court has administrative authority over all courts and adopts rules of practice and procedure.

Small claims are handled in the magistrate division; the jurisdictional dollar limit is set by statute and periodically adjusted.

Idaho's public-records framework (Idaho Public Records Act, Title 74, Idaho Code) governs access to court records, subject to confidentiality rules.

Court reporters in Idaho are subject to the Idaho Supreme Court's rules and any certification requirements established by the Idaho Supreme Court or statute.

Real-time transcription converts stenotype keystrokes to display text through a dictionary; untranslated strokes appear as raw steno and must be resolved before certification.

A certified transcript typically includes a title page, appearances, index, body, and a reporter's certificate stating the transcript is a true and accurate record.

Colloquy format places speaker identification flush left followed by a colon, with the spoken text indented; parentheticals describe non-verbal events such as (Whereupon, the jury entered).

Q and A format: question and answer each begin a new paragraph; consecutive answers by the same witness may be combined only when no question intervenes.

Read-back and playback requests are logged with the page and line reference so the record shows exactly what was repeated to the jury.

Exhibit marking uses sequential numbers for court exhibits and letters for party exhibits; the first reference in the transcript is marked '(Exhibit 1 marked for identification.)'

Transcript page format: 25 numbered lines per page, page numbers on each page, and line numbers used for citing specific testimony.

Audio/video depositions require a synchronization log if the transcript will be used alongside time-coded media in trial.

Burden of proof: 'preponderance of the evidence' applies in most civil cases; 'clear and convincing' in specified civil matters; 'beyond a reasonable doubt' in criminal cases.

Sustained means the objection is upheld and the answer is excluded; overruled means the objection is denied and the answer stands.

Voir dire refers to jury selection and, separately, to the preliminary examination of a witness's qualifications.

A proffer is an offer of proof made outside the jury's presence to preserve an issue for appeal.

Nunc pro tunc means 'now for then' and corrects an order to reflect a previously intended ruling.

Sua sponte means the court acts on its own motion without a party's request.

Res judicata bars relitigation of a claim already decided on the merits; collateral estoppel bars relitigation of a specific issue.

Hearsay is an out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted; the rule has numerous enumerated exceptions.

Use an em dash (-) for abrupt breaks in thought and an en dash (–) for ranges; a hyphen joins compound modifiers before a noun (e.g., 'well-known author').

Serial comma is standard in legal writing to prevent ambiguity in lists and enumerations.

Quotation marks enclose exact spoken words; punctuation that is part of the quotation goes inside the closing quote, otherwise outside.

Ellipsis (…) indicates omitted words in a quotation; in transcripts, it also marks a pause or trailing speech.

Subject-verb agreement: collective nouns (jury, court, panel) generally take a singular verb when acting as a unit.

'Who' is used for subjects, 'whom' for objects; 'that' introduces restrictive clauses, 'which' introduces nonrestrictive clauses preceded by a comma.

Commonly confused pairs in legal text: 'principal/principle,' 'counsel/council,' 'statute/statue,' 'assure/ensure/insure.'

Numbers: spell out one through nine and use figures for 10 and above in general prose; always use figures for dates, money, and percentages.

Court reporters must accurately and completely record proceedings; intentional omission or alteration of the record violates ethical duties.

Confidentiality applies to grand jury proceedings, juvenile matters, sealed filings, and in-camera reviews; disclosure requires a court order.

A reporter with a conflict of interest (e.g., financial interest in the outcome, close relationship with a party) must disclose and, if necessary, recuse.

Ex parte communications about a pending case with a judge or party outside the record should be avoided and, if received, disclosed.

Reporters may not give legal advice or interpret testimony; questions about meaning go to the court.

Transcript fees and delivery timelines are governed by statute or court rule; charging for copies beyond the authorized rate can be an ethical violation.

Retention and storage of stenographic notes, audio, and drafts must follow the jurisdiction's retention schedule and secure-handling requirements.

A reporter who observes misconduct (e.g., tampering with exhibits or intimidation of a witness) has a duty to report to the presiding judge.

Idaho's court structure: Supreme Court (highest), Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate), district courts (general jurisdiction), and magistrate division within each district.

Idaho has seven judicial districts; district judges are elected on a nonpartisan basis and serve six-year terms.

The Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure (I.R.C.P.) govern civil practice; the Idaho Rules of Evidence (I.R.E.) govern admissibility and are modeled on the Federal Rules.

Idaho Rules of Appellate Procedure (I.A.R.) govern appeals to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, including briefing deadlines and record designation.

The Idaho Supreme Court has administrative authority over all courts and adopts rules of practice and procedure.

Small claims are handled in the magistrate division; the jurisdictional dollar limit is set by statute and periodically adjusted.

Idaho's public-records framework (Idaho Public Records Act, Title 74, Idaho Code) governs access to court records, subject to confidentiality rules.

Court reporters in Idaho are subject to the Idaho Supreme Court's rules and any certification requirements established by the Idaho Supreme Court or statute.