ID Court Reporter flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Stenotype
- A chorded keyboard machine used by court reporters that records syllables phonetically; multiple keys pressed simultaneously produce one syllable or word in steno.
- Real-time translation
- The process by which a court reporter's stenotype output is converted into readable text on a screen as testimony is spoken, using a pre-built dictionary.
- Certified transcript
- A finalized, signed record of proceedings that includes the reporter's certificate affirming accuracy, plus title page, appearances, index, and body.
- Colloquy format
- A transcript layout in which each speaker's name appears flush left with a colon, and spoken text is indented beneath; non-verbal events appear as parentheticals.
- Q and A format
- A transcript layout in which each question and each answer begins a new paragraph, with the speaker label (Q or A) and the text following on the same line.
- Exhibit marking
- The process of identifying physical or documentary evidence on the record; court exhibits use numbers, party exhibits often use letters, and the first reference is noted parenthetically.
- Read-back
- A request during trial that the reporter re-read previously recorded testimony to the jury; the reporter logs the page and line range read.
- Sustained objection
- A ruling in which the judge agrees with an objection; the question or answer is excluded from the record and the jury is typically instructed to disregard it.
- Overruled objection
- A ruling in which the judge rejects an objection; the testimony or evidence remains in the record and may be considered by the jury.
- Voir dire
- Jury selection examination of prospective jurors, or the preliminary questioning of a witness to test qualifications before testimony is admitted.
- Proffer
- An offer of proof describing expected testimony or evidence, made outside the jury's presence to preserve the issue for appellate review.
- Nunc pro tunc
- Latin for 'now for then'; an order entered retroactively to correct a prior ruling so the record reflects the intended decision as of the earlier date.
- Sua sponte
- Latin for 'of one's own accord'; describes a court acting on its own motion without a request from either party.
- Res judicata
- A doctrine barring relitigation of a claim that has already been finally decided on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction.
- Hearsay
- An out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted; generally inadmissible unless an enumerated exception applies.
- Burden of proof
- The obligation to prove a fact or claim; standards include preponderance, clear and convincing evidence, and beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Em dash
- A long dash (-) used to mark an abrupt break in thought or an aside; distinct from the en dash used for ranges and the hyphen used in compounds.
- Serial comma
- The comma placed before the conjunction in a list of three or more items; standard in legal writing to prevent ambiguity.
- Restrictive clause
- A clause essential to the meaning of the sentence, introduced by 'that' and not set off by commas.
- Nonrestrictive clause
- A clause providing additional, nonessential information, introduced by 'which' and set off by commas.
- Ellipsis
- A series of three dots (…) indicating omitted words in a quotation, or a trailing pause in transcribed speech.
- Collective noun agreement
- A collective noun such as jury, court, or panel takes a singular verb when the group acts as a unit and a plural verb when members act individually.
- Who versus whom
- 'Who' serves as a subject; 'whom' serves as an object of a verb or preposition. Choose by the word's function in its clause.
- Confidentiality duty
- The reporter's obligation not to disclose sealed, grand jury, juvenile, or in-camera matters except as authorized by court order or rule.
- Conflict of interest
- A circumstance such as a financial stake or close relationship with a party that could impair impartiality; must be disclosed and may require recusal.
- Ex parte communication
- Communication with a judge about a pending matter outside the presence of other parties; generally prohibited and, if received, must be disclosed.
- Unauthorized practice of law
- Giving legal advice or interpreting testimony, which reporters must avoid; questions of meaning are directed to the court.
- Record integrity
- The ethical duty to record proceedings accurately and completely, and to refrain from intentional omission, alteration, or destruction of the record.
- Idaho Supreme Court
- Idaho's highest court; it has administrative authority over all state courts and adopts rules of practice and procedure.
- Idaho Court of Appeals
- Idaho's intermediate appellate court, which hears assigned appeals from district courts under the Idaho Rules of Appellate Procedure.
- Idaho judicial districts
- Idaho is divided into seven judicial districts; each has district courts with a magistrate division handling specified matters.
- Idaho Rules of Evidence
- The evidentiary rules (I.R.E.) governing admissibility in Idaho courts; modeled on the Federal Rules of Evidence with Idaho-specific amendments.