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Question 1Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In the literary format used by court reporters, how is a speaker identification typically presented at the start of a paragraph of read-in material?

  1. In lowercase italics with no punctuation following
  2. In all capital letters followed by a colon, with the paragraph continuing on the same line Correct answer.
  3. Only once at the top of each page, never per paragraph
  4. In parentheses embedded mid-sentence after the first clause

Explanation

Literary transcription identifies each new speaker with a capitalized name followed by a colon, and the spoken text continues immediately after it on the same line. This convention lets a reader track speaker changes without separate heading lines.

Question 2Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

When transcribing a jury charge that the judge reads aloud, the reporter's primary obligation is to capture which of the following?

  1. Only the verdict form language, omitting the substantive instructions
  2. The exact wording of the charge as delivered, including any corrections the judge states on the record Correct answer.
  3. A summarized paraphrase of each legal instruction for readability
  4. The judge's vocal inflections and pauses rendered as bracketed notes

Explanation

A jury charge transcript must reproduce the words actually delivered, including any on-the-record corrections or supplemental instructions. Paraphrase or omission would misstate the law given to the jury. Vocal inflections are not transcribed in a verbatim charge.

Question 3Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness testifies, "He said, I'll be there at noon." In verbatim testimony transcription, how should the reporter render the witness's embedded quotation?

  1. Replace the quoted words with a bracketed summary
  2. Reproduce the words as spoken, retaining the internal quotation marks Correct answer.
  3. Convert it to indirect speech so the grammar reads smoothly
  4. Delete the quotation because it is hearsay

Explanation

Testimony is transcribed verbatim, so words a witness attributes to another person are reproduced as spoken with internal quotation marks intact. The reporter does not edit for grammar or assess admissibility.

Question 4Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

Which element distinguishes the jury charge format from the literary format in a transcript?

  1. The charge omits all punctuation to preserve the judge's pacing
  2. The charge uses numbered or lettered instructions and often begins with a formal address to the jury Correct answer.
  3. The charge is transcribed only in question-and-answer form
  4. The charge is set in single-spaced block paragraphs without speaker labels

Explanation

Jury charge transcription commonly preserves the numbered or lettered structure of the written instructions and the formal opening address to the jury. Literary format instead follows continuous narrative paragraphs with speaker identifications, and testimony uses question-and-answer form.

Question 5Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In question-and-answer testimony format, where does the colloquy marker "(Whereupon, the following proceedings were held:)" typically appear?

  1. As a footnote at the bottom of the page
  2. At the end of every answer
  3. Embedded within the witness's answer text
  4. In parentheses on its own line to note an event occurring off the spoken record Correct answer.

Explanation

Parenthetical colloquy notes record non-verbal or procedural events and are placed on their own line in parentheses. They are not part of any speaker's spoken words, so they never appear inside an answer.

Question 6Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness spells a surname aloud: "K-A-W-A-L-E-C." How should the reporter transcribe this in testimony?

  1. As the letters exactly as spoken, since the spelling is part of the record Correct answer.
  2. As an editorial note stating the name was spelled
  3. As the completed name only, discarding the spelling
  4. As a phonetic respelling in brackets

Explanation

Spelling aloud is substantive testimony, particularly for proper names and technical terms, and is transcribed exactly as delivered. Condensing it to the finished name would lose the record of what the witness actually said.

Question 7Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

Which punctuation is conventionally used in literary transcription to set off a parenthetical remark spoken by the same speaker?

  1. Square brackets only
  2. Semicolons only
  3. No punctuation, since the remark is spoken
  4. Em dashes or parentheses, depending on the sentence structure Correct answer.

Explanation

Parenthetical remarks by a speaker are set off with commas, parentheses, or em dashes according to how tightly the remark is bound to the sentence. Square brackets are reserved for editorial insertions, not the speaker's own words.

Question 8Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

During a jury charge, the judge says, "Instruction number seven, I withdraw and substitute the following." What must the reporter do?

  1. Transcribe both the withdrawal and the substitute instruction as stated Correct answer.
  2. Ask the judge to repeat the instruction for clarity
  3. Transcribe only the substitute instruction and omit the withdrawal
  4. Note in brackets that the instruction was changed without transcribing it

Explanation

Both the withdrawal and the substituted instruction are part of the proceedings and must appear verbatim in the charge transcript. Omitting the withdrawal would misrepresent the instructions the jury actually received.

Question 9Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness answers a question with a single word, "Yes." In question-and-answer format, how is this rendered?

  1. Merged into the preceding question line
  2. Omitted as non-substantive
  3. On its own line as "A. Yes." Correct answer.
  4. Combined with the next answer to form a full sentence

Explanation

Each answer, however brief, receives its own line with the "A." designation in question-and-answer format. Merging or omitting it would misstate the exchange.

Question 10Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In literary transcription, a speaker trails off without completing a sentence. Which rendering best follows standard convention?

  1. End the sentence with a period and add the missing words in brackets
  2. Replace the fragment with "(inaudible)"
  3. Use an ellipsis or em dash to indicate the unfinished thought Correct answer.
  4. Complete the sentence with the most likely words

Explanation

An ellipsis or em dash signals that the speaker's thought was left incomplete, preserving the verbatim character of the record. Supplying words or marking it inaudible misrepresents what was said.

Question 11Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A judge delivering a jury charge states a statutory citation, then corrects it: "That's section 42.1 - correction, section 42.01." How should the charge transcript reflect this?

  1. Transcribe only the corrected citation, omitting the initial error
  2. Insert a bracketed note that the judge misspoke
  3. Transcribe both the original and the correction exactly as spoken Correct answer.
  4. Transcribe the correction and footnote the original number

Explanation

On-the-record corrections are part of the proceedings and both the original statement and the correction must appear verbatim. Editing out the initial citation would conceal the correction from the record.

Question 12Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

Which feature most clearly marks a passage as testimony format rather than literary format?

  1. Continuous narrative paragraphs with speaker colons
  2. Numbered instructions addressed to the jury
  3. Alternating "Q." and "A." designations on separate lines Correct answer.
  4. Single-spaced block text with no paragraph breaks

Explanation

Testimony format is built on alternating questions and answers, each on its own line with Q. and A. designations. Literary format uses narrative paragraphs with speaker colons, and numbered instructions belong to a jury charge.

Question 13Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness uses a profane word during testimony. Under standard verbatim practice, how should the reporter transcribe it?

  1. Substitute dashes for most of the letters
  2. Replace it with "(expletive)"
  3. Omit the word and note its removal
  4. Reproduce the word as spoken without alteration Correct answer.

Explanation

Verbatim testimony records the words actually spoken, including profanity, because the record must reflect the witness's statement accurately. Sanitizing or substituting a placeholder changes the evidence.

Question 14Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In a literary transcript, a speaker quotes a document at length. Which convention best signals the quoted material within the speaker's paragraph?

  1. Begin a new page for the quotation
  2. Convert the quotation to a summary
  3. Set the quotation off with quotation marks and reproduce the words as read Correct answer.
  4. Mark the quotation with square brackets

Explanation

Words read from a document are enclosed in quotation marks within the speaker's paragraph and reproduced as read. Square brackets are reserved for editorial insertions, and summarizing would not be verbatim.

Question 15Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness refers to an exhibit by number, then gestures toward it without speaking. How should the reporter handle the gesture?

  1. Replace it with a bracketed guess about what the witness meant
  2. Transcribe it as dialogue attributed to the witness
  3. Record it as a parenthetical colloquy note describing the gesture Correct answer.
  4. Omit it entirely, since only words are transcribed

Explanation

Non-verbal events that carry meaning in the record are captured in parenthetical notes describing what occurred. The reporter describes the gesture rather than inventing words or omitting a meaningful event.

Question 16Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

Which punctuation correctly closes a question in the Q-and-A portion of a deposition transcript when the examining attorney's sentence is a question?

  1. A question mark at the end of the question text Correct answer.
  2. A period, because the Q. designation already signals a question
  3. A colon, to introduce the answer
  4. No terminal punctuation before the answer line

Explanation

Even though the Q. designation identifies the speaker's role, the sentence itself is punctuated according to its grammar, so a question ends with a question mark. The designation does not replace terminal punctuation.

Question 17Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

During the jury charge, the judge pauses and asks counsel, off the record, whether a bench conference is needed. The court then goes back on the record. How should the reporter treat the off-the-record exchange?

  1. Transcribe only the judge's question and omit counsel's reply
  2. Transcribe the exchange in full within the charge
  3. Summarize the exchange in brackets
  4. Exclude the off-the-record exchange and note the resumption of proceedings Correct answer.

Explanation

Matters occurring off the record are excluded from the transcript, with a parenthetical noting the interruption and resumption of proceedings. Partial transcription of an off-the-record exchange would misrepresent the record.

Question 18Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

How does the treatment of paragraphing differ between literary transcription and verbatim Q-and-A testimony?

  1. Both use paragraph breaks only at page boundaries
  2. Neither format uses paragraphing of any kind
  3. Literary uses paragraph breaks at changes of speaker or topic, while Q-and-A uses a new line for each question and answer Correct answer.
  4. Q-and-A uses continuous paragraphs while literary uses one line per utterance

Explanation

Literary format paragraphs group a speaker's continuous remarks, breaking at changes of speaker or topic. Q-and-A format instead assigns a new line to every question and every answer.

Question 19Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness's answer is interrupted by opposing counsel's objection. In Q-and-A format, how is the interruption best represented?

  1. Place the objection in brackets inside the question
  2. Place the objection on its own line as a separate speaker entry Correct answer.
  3. Omit the objection as argumentative
  4. Merge the objection into the witness's answer line

Explanation

An objection is spoken by counsel and is therefore transcribed as a separate speaker entry on its own line. Merging, omitting, or bracketing it would misattribute or suppress part of the colloquy.

Question 20Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In literary transcription, a speaker's words are unclear and the reporter cannot resolve them from context. Which rendering is most appropriate?

  1. Guess the most probable word and transcribe it plainly
  2. Leave a blank space in the line
  3. Insert "(inaudible)" or a bracketed best-guess with a question mark Correct answer.
  4. Substitute a similar-sounding word without marking it

Explanation

Unintelligible speech is flagged with an "(inaudible)" notation, or a bracketed best guess marked with a question mark when a probable reading exists. Silent guessing or unmarked substitution misleads the reader about the certainty of the record.

Question 21Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A judge reads a written jury charge but departs from the text in two places. The written charge is later filed. Which principle governs the transcript?

  1. The transcript averages the written and spoken versions
  2. The transcript reproduces the written charge as filed, ignoring spoken departures
  3. The transcript notes only that the charge was given
  4. The transcript records the charge as delivered orally, including the departures Correct answer.

Explanation

The transcript is a record of the proceedings as they occurred, so it captures the charge as orally delivered, including any departures from the written text. The filed written charge is a separate document and does not override the spoken record.

Question 22Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In a literary transcript, a speaker begins a sentence, is interrupted by another speaker, and later resumes. Which rendering best preserves the record?

  1. Place the interruption in parentheses within the first speaker's paragraph
  2. Show the interruption as a separate speaker paragraph, then resume the first speaker with a new identification Correct answer.
  3. Combine the interrupted and resumed portions into one uninterrupted paragraph
  4. Delete the interrupted fragment as incomplete

Explanation

Each change of speaker begins a new paragraph with its own speaker identification, and the resuming speaker is identified again. This preserves the sequence of who spoke and when the interruption occurred.

Question 23Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness testifies using a term the reporter believes is a mispronunciation of a technical word. Which approach best follows verbatim practice?

  1. Silently correct it to the standard technical spelling
  2. Replace it with a bracketed definition
  3. Transcribe the word as the witness pronounced it, without correction Correct answer.
  4. Transcribe it phonetically and add "(sic)"

Explanation

Verbatim practice records the words as the witness uttered them, and the reporter does not correct pronunciation or vocabulary. If clarification matters, counsel can address it on the record through further examination.

Question 24Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

Which pairing of format and its characteristic opening is correct for a jury charge transcript?

  1. "Q. Please state your name."
  2. "THE COURT: Members of the jury, the instructions I am about to read govern your deliberations." Correct answer.
  3. "MR. HALE: Let the record reflect the witness has taken the stand."
  4. "A. I do not recall."

Explanation

A charge opens with the judge addressing the jury about the instructions that follow, identified as the court's statement. The other lines are drawn from testimony or colloquy and do not open a charge.

Question 25Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A reporter must decide whether to use "(Whereupon, ...)" or a simple descriptive parenthetical for a recess. Which consideration best guides the choice?

  1. The length of the recess in minutes
  2. Whether the judge or counsel requested the recess
  3. Whether the recess occurred before or after the charge
  4. Whether the event is procedural and non-verbal and thus belongs in a parenthetical note Correct answer.

Explanation

Parenthetical notes record procedural, non-verbal events such as recesses and resumptions regardless of duration or who requested them. The guiding question is whether the event is spoken testimony or a non-verbal occurrence to be noted.

Question 26Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In a jury charge transcript, the judge addresses the jury directly and begins reading the written instructions. Which opening notation most accurately reflects standard court reporting practice for the charge portion?

  1. (Jury charge read by the Court.)
  2. THE COURT: Members of the jury, I will now read the charge.
  3. THE COURT reads the charge to the jury as follows: Correct answer.
  4. COURT REPORTER: The judge then read the charge.

Explanation

When a judge reads a prepared charge, reporters conventionally note the act of reading with a descriptive line attributing it to the Court, then transcribe the text verbatim. The speaker label plus the verb "reads" preserves the record's accuracy about how the instructions entered the record. A simple parenthetical or an unlabeled statement loses that attribution.

Question 27Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

During the jury charge, the judge says to the jury, "The plaintiff bears the burden of proving negligence by a preponderance of the evidence." How should the reporter handle the phrase "preponderance of the evidence" in the charge transcript?

  1. Omit it because the written charge already contains it.
  2. Set it in quotation marks to mark it as a legal phrase.
  3. Transcribe it verbatim as spoken, since it is a legal term of art. Correct answer.
  4. Rephrase it as "more likely than not" for juror clarity.

Explanation

The reporter's duty is verbatim transcription; legal terms of art are recorded exactly as the judge delivers them. Rephrasing or omitting alters the official record and could affect appellate review of the charge. Quotation marks are reserved for actual quotations, not for legal terminology.

Question 28Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness in literary transcription says, "I told him - well, I tried to tell him - that the door was locked." Which rendering best follows standard literary conventions for the dashes?

  1. I told him, well, I tried to tell him, that the door was locked.
  2. I told him... well... I tried to tell him... that the door was locked.
  3. I told him (well, I tried to tell him) that the door was locked.
  4. I told him-well, I tried to tell him-that the door was locked. Correct answer.

Explanation

In literary transcription, an abrupt break or self-interruption is conventionally shown with an em dash, closed up to the surrounding words. The paired dashes here correctly mark the speaker's parenthetical aside. Commas, ellipses, and parentheses each signal different phenomena and misrepresent the delivery.

Question 29Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In question-and-answer testimony format, the examining attorney asks, "Did you sign the lease on March 3?" and the witness replies, "I don't recall." How is the witness's reply correctly rendered?

  1. THE WITNESS: I don't recall.
  2. Q. I don't recall.
  3. A. "I don't recall."
  4. A. I don't recall. Correct answer.

Explanation

In Q-and-A format, the witness's answer is introduced by the "A." designation, and the words are recorded without added quotation marks. The "Q." label belongs only to the examiner's questions. Speaker labels such as "THE WITNESS" are used in literary format, not in Q-and-A.

Question 30Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness in literary transcription says, "The contract was signed by-" and is cut off by the judge saying, "Let's move on." Which rendering best shows the interruption?

  1. The contract was signed by, [interrupted].
  2. The contract was signed by [THE COURT: Let's move on.]
  3. The contract was signed by ... Let's move on.
  4. The contract was signed by- THE COURT: Let's move on. Correct answer.

Explanation

A dash at the end of the incomplete utterance marks the cut-off, and the interrupting speaker is introduced on a new line with a speaker label. This preserves both the incompleteness of the first statement and the identity of the interrupter. Ellipses, bracketed summaries, and inline insertions do not follow standard literary conventions.

Question 31Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

Which element most reliably distinguishes a jury charge transcript's treatment of the judge's remarks from testimony format?

  1. The judge's remarks are preceded by "Q." and "A." markers.
  2. The judge's remarks are recorded under a single speaker label without Q-and-A designations. Correct answer.
  3. The judge's remarks are set in all capital letters throughout.
  4. The judge's remarks are paraphrased to remove repetition.

Explanation

A jury charge is delivered as continuous discourse by the Court, so it is transcribed under a Court speaker label without question-and-answer designations. Testimony format, by contrast, alternates "Q." and "A." markers. Paraphrasing and all-caps formatting are not conventions of charge transcription.

Question 32Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In a literary transcript, a speaker says, "She said, and I quote, 'I will not attend,' and then hung up." How should the reporter handle the embedded quotation?

  1. Remove the inner quotation marks to avoid confusion with the outer text.
  2. Retain the inner quotation marks around the quoted words. Correct answer.
  3. Convert the quoted words to italics without quotation marks.
  4. Replace the quoted words with a bracketed summary.

Explanation

When a speaker quotes another person's words, the reporter retains quotation marks around the quoted material so the reader can distinguish the speaker's own words from the quoted speech. Removing the marks or substituting italics would blur that distinction. Summarizing in brackets would replace verbatim words with the reporter's paraphrase.

Question 33Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness gestures toward a diagram on the wall and says, "It was right there." How should the reporter record the gesture in literary transcription?

  1. It was right there. (Witness indicating the diagram.) Correct answer.
  2. It was right there, gesturing toward the diagram on the wall.
  3. It was right there. (indicating)
  4. It was right there. [Witness points to diagram.]

Explanation

Nonverbal conduct that bears on the testimony is recorded in a parenthetical describing the action, placed after the spoken words. The parenthetical should be a complete descriptive phrase identifying the actor and the referent. Bracketed editorial insertions and narrative sentences blended into the quote are not standard.

Question 34Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

During the jury charge, the judge says, "I instruct you that the defendant is presumed innocent." In the charge transcript, how is the pronoun "I" best handled?

  1. Enclose "I" in brackets to signal first-person speech.
  2. Change "I" to "the Court" to match formal style.
  3. Omit "I" and begin with "Instruct you that ...".
  4. Retain "I" exactly as spoken because the charge is transcribed verbatim. Correct answer.

Explanation

Even in the formal setting of a charge, the reporter records the judge's words verbatim, including first-person pronouns. Altering "I" to "the Court" or deleting it changes the judge's actual language. Brackets are reserved for editorial insertions or clarifications, not for ordinary pronouns.

Question 35Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness in Q-and-A testimony is asked, "What color was the car?" and answers, "Red." Which rendering correctly applies Q-and-A conventions?

  1. Q. What color was the car? (A. Red.)
  2. Q. What color was the car? A. Red. Correct answer.
  3. Q. What color was the car? A. Red.
  4. Q. What color was the car? - Red.

Explanation

In Q-and-A format, each question and each answer begins on its own line with its respective designation. Placing the question and answer on the same line or using dashes or parentheses to combine them departs from the format. The separate lines preserve the exchange structure clearly.

Question 36Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In literary transcription, a speaker says, "We need to, um, finalize the, uh, budget." Which rendering best follows standard conventions for these hesitation sounds?

  1. We need to ... finalize the ... budget.
  2. We need to [pause] finalize the [pause] budget.
  3. We need to, um, finalize the, uh, budget. Correct answer.
  4. We need to finalize the budget.

Explanation

In literary transcription, audible hesitation sounds that the speaker actually uttered are recorded verbatim, set off by commas. Replacing them with bracketed pause notations or ellipses substitutes the reporter's interpretation for the actual sounds. Deleting them removes words the speaker said.

Question 37Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A judge delivering a charge says, "You must find for the plaintiff if you believe the testimony of the witness - strike that; if you find the testimony credible." How should the reporter handle the self-correction?

  1. Record only the corrected version and omit the struck language.
  2. Record both versions as spoken, including the "strike that" instruction. Correct answer.
  3. Record the struck language in brackets to show it was withdrawn.
  4. Record the struck language but mark it with a footnote.

Explanation

The reporter records what was actually said, including the judge's instruction to strike, so the appellate court can see exactly what occurred on the record. Silently deleting the struck words conceals the correction. Brackets and footnotes are reporter-supplied devices that do not substitute for verbatim recording.

Question 38Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In a literary transcript, the speaker says, "I never said that!" and the reporter must decide how to punctuate the exclamation. Which rendering correctly reflects the emphatic delivery?

  1. I never said that.
  2. I never said that-
  3. I never said that! Correct answer.
  4. I never said that?

Explanation

The exclamation point reflects the emphatic delivery the reporter heard. Punctuation in literary transcription follows the speaker's intonation and force. A period, question mark, or dash would misrepresent the volume and emphasis of the utterance.

Question 39Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

During Q-and-A testimony, the examining attorney says, "Let the record reflect that the witness is pointing to the document marked as Exhibit 4." How should the reporter record this statement?

  1. As a parenthetical describing the witness's gesture.
  2. As a verbatim statement by the examining attorney. Correct answer.
  3. As a footnote to the witness's prior answer.
  4. As a bracketed editorial note.

Explanation

When counsel asks that something be reflected on the record, counsel is speaking on the record, and the reporter transcribes those words verbatim as counsel's statement. The reporter does not convert counsel's request into a reporter's parenthetical, because the words were spoken by counsel. Brackets and footnotes are not substitutes for recording spoken words.

Question 40Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In a literary transcript, a speaker delivers a long statement that shifts topic midway. Which paragraphing approach best follows standard conventions?

  1. Begin a new paragraph after every sentence.
  2. Keep the entire statement in one paragraph regardless of length.
  3. Begin a new paragraph only when the speaker changes.
  4. Begin a new paragraph at each shift in topic or speaker. Correct answer.

Explanation

Literary transcription paragraphs at changes in speaker and at clear shifts in topic, which aids readability of continuous discourse. Keeping everything in one block obscures structure, while paragraphing after every sentence fragments the text unnaturally. Paragraphing only at speaker changes ignores topic shifts within a single speaker's remarks.

Question 41Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A judge reading the charge says, "The verdict must be unanimous, that is, all twelve jurors must agree." How should the reporter punctuate "that is" in the charge transcript?

  1. The verdict must be unanimous, that is all twelve jurors must agree.
  2. The verdict must be unanimous - that is all twelve jurors must agree.
  3. The verdict must be unanimous that is all twelve jurors must agree.
  4. The verdict must be unanimous; that is, all twelve jurors must agree. Correct answer.

Explanation

"That is" introduces a restatement and is conventionally set off by a semicolon before and a comma after. This punctuation clearly marks the explanatory clause. Omitting punctuation or using a dash alone leaves the restatement unclear.

Question 42Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In Q-and-A testimony, the court reporter must record a witness's answer that includes a direct quotation of a company policy. Which rendering is correct?

  1. A. The policy says [employees must clock in] before each shift.
  2. A. The policy says employees must clock in before each shift.
  3. A. The policy says - employees must clock in - before each shift.
  4. A. The policy says "employees must clock in" before each shift. Correct answer.

Explanation

In Q-and-A format, quotation marks are retained when the witness is quoting another source, because they distinguish the quoted words from the witness's own phrasing. Removing the marks or substituting brackets or dashes misrepresents what the witness said. The "A." designation is retained in all cases.

Question 43Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness in literary transcription says, "It was, uh, approximately-" and then falls silent for several seconds before continuing, "around noon." Which rendering best captures the sequence?

  1. It was, uh, approximately [silence] around noon.
  2. It was, uh, approximately- (pause) around noon.
  3. It was, uh, approximately around noon.
  4. It was, uh, approximately ... around noon. Correct answer.

Explanation

A dash marks the abrupt break, and an ellipsis marks the ensuing silence before the speaker resumes. Together they preserve the sequence of break, pause, and continuation. Bracketed notations and deletion of the pause lose information about the delivery.

Question 44Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In a jury charge transcript, the judge says, "I'm going to read you Instruction 12, which concerns damages." The written charge later filed is numbered 12. Which principle governs the reporter's handling of the number?

  1. The reporter omits the number as redundant.
  2. The reporter corrects the number to match the filed written charge.
  3. The reporter records the number exactly as the judge spoke it. Correct answer.
  4. The reporter inserts the number in brackets to signal a discrepancy.

Explanation

The transcript records what was said in the courtroom; the reporter does not reconcile spoken words with later-filed documents. If the judge misspoke, the spoken record still reflects the words delivered to the jury. Correcting, omitting, or bracketing the number would alter the record.

Question 45Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A witness in literary transcription says, "I saw him at the-the corner store, I mean, at the gas station." Which rendering best follows conventions for the self-correction?

  1. I saw him at the corner store, I mean, at the gas station.
  2. I saw him at the-the corner store, I mean, at the gas station. Correct answer.
  3. I saw him at the gas station (corrected).
  4. I saw him at the [corner store] gas station.

Explanation

The reporter records the entire utterance, including the self-correction, exactly as delivered. The dash marks the speaker's false start, and the corrective phrase is retained. Deleting the false start or substituting editorial notes changes what the speaker actually said.

Question 46Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In Q-and-A testimony, the examining attorney asks a question that the witness does not answer because opposing counsel objects. The judge says, "Sustained." How is this exchange best recorded?

  1. Q. [question] MR. JONES: Objection. THE COURT: Sustained. Correct answer.
  2. Q. [question] A. [no answer] THE COURT: Sustained.
  3. Q. [question] (Objection sustained.)
  4. Q. [question] Objection. Sustained.

Explanation

Each speaker's words are recorded with the appropriate speaker label, including counsel's objection and the court's ruling. Omitting counsel's objection or the ruling deprives the record of the basis for the exchange. Parenthetical summaries and unlabeled fragments do not identify who spoke.

Question 47Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

During the jury charge, the judge reads a written instruction but adds an unscripted remark: "That's the law, folks." How should the reporter treat the added remark relative to the written text?

  1. Place the added remark in brackets to flag it as unscripted.
  2. Record the added remark as spoken, since it was delivered to the jury. Correct answer.
  3. Omit the added remark because it is not in the written charge.
  4. Record the added remark in a footnote only.

Explanation

The transcript captures what the jury actually heard, including any departure from the written text. Omitting the remark, bracketing it, or relegating it to a footnote conceals the judge's actual delivery. Such departures may be significant on appeal, so verbatim recording is essential.

Question 48Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In literary transcription, a speaker says, "The meeting was on Tuesday - no, Wednesday - at 10 a.m." Which rendering best follows conventions for the two corrections?

  1. The meeting was on Tuesday-no, Wednesday-at 10 a.m. Correct answer.
  2. The meeting was on Tuesday ... no ... Wednesday ... at 10 a.m.
  3. The meeting was on Tuesday, no, Wednesday, at 10 a.m.
  4. The meeting was on Tuesday (no, Wednesday) at 10 a.m.

Explanation

Paired em dashes mark the speaker's abrupt self-corrections, preserving the interjected nature of the corrections. Commas, ellipses, and parentheses each signal different phenomena and would misrepresent the delivery. The dashes keep the corrections visually distinct from the surrounding statement.

Question 49Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

A reporter must decide between a descriptive parenthetical such as "(Recess taken.)" and a fuller notation for a recess during a jury charge. Which consideration most governs the choice?

  1. Whether the notation uses formal legal terminology.
  2. Whether the notation accurately records what occurred and is unambiguous to a reader. Correct answer.
  3. Whether the notation is shorter than alternative phrasings.
  4. Whether the notation appears in the written charge.

Explanation

Parentheticals should accurately and unambiguously describe what occurred on the record, so accuracy and clarity govern the choice. Brevity, formality, and the contents of the written charge are secondary. A notation that leaves a reader uncertain about what happened fails its purpose.

Question 50Court Reporting Skills: Literary, Jury Charge, and Testimony Transcription

In Q-and-A testimony, a witness gives an answer that includes both a direct quotation and a parenthetical aside: "He said, 'I'll be there,' and then - believe it or not - he showed up." Which rendering best applies Q-and-A conventions?

  1. A. He said, I'll be there, and then, believe it or not, he showed up.
  2. A. He said, 'I'll be there,' and then (believe it or not) he showed up.
  3. A. He said "I'll be there" and then, believe it or not, he showed up.
  4. A. He said, "I'll be there," and then - believe it or not - he showed up. Correct answer.

Explanation

In Q-and-A format, the witness's answer is recorded verbatim with quotation marks around the quoted speech and em dashes around the spoken aside. Removing the quotation marks or substituting commas or parentheses misrepresents the delivery. The "A." designation introduces the answer.