NM Court Reporter flashcards

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

Voir dire

The preliminary examination of prospective jurors or a witness to test competency, bias, or qualifications; the reporter records the questions, answers, and any challenges for cause.

Sustained objection

A court ruling agreeing with an objection, excluding the question or answer from evidence; the reporter notes the ruling and any exception taken by counsel.

Overruled objection

A court ruling denying an objection and allowing the question or answer to stand; the reporter records the ruling verbatim and the testimony that follows.

Offer of proof

A statement by counsel describing excluded evidence for the appellate record; the reporter transcribes the offer and the court's ruling on admissibility.

Hearsay

An out-of-court statement offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted; the reporter records the statement, objection, and ruling without editorial comment.

Stipulation

A voluntary agreement between parties about a fact or procedure; when stated on the record, the reporter transcribes it exactly as agreed.

Sidebar conference

An off-the-record discussion at the bench between the judge and counsel; the reporter notes it in the transcript and records it only if directed by the court.

Direct contempt

Contempt committed in the presence of the court, such as disruptive conduct; the reporter's contemporaneous record often supports the court's finding and sanction.

Judgment notwithstanding verdict

A post-trial ruling setting aside a jury verdict; the reporter must record the motion, arguments, and the court's ruling exactly as stated.

Reporter as officer of court

A New Mexico court reporter is an officer of the court whose duties are defined by court rules; the reporter's record is the official record of proceedings.

Administering the oath

Before testimony, the reporter swears or affirms the witness on the record and notes 'WITNESS SWORN' or 'AFFIRMED' before questioning begins.

Interpreter oath

When a witness testifies in another language, the interpreter is sworn, and the reporter records both the interpretation and any objections to it.

Transcript request procedure

A party requests a transcript by written notice or court order; the reporter acknowledges the request and provides an estimated completion date, typically within 30 days.

Exhibit marking

The reporter assigns exhibit numbers or letters, records objections and rulings, and preserves the exhibit list as part of the official record.

Reporter's certificate

A signed and dated statement by the reporter certifying that the transcript is a true and correct record; it accompanies the filed transcript under NMRA Rule 1-105.

Audio recording log

When a proceeding is audio-recorded, the reporter or custodian logs start and stop times and preserves the original unedited file as the official record.

Read-back of testimony

On request, the reporter reads back prior testimony from notes; the read-back is itself recorded in the transcript to preserve the record.

25-line page format

New Mexico transcripts use 25 numbered lines per page on legal-size paper, with a minimum 1-inch left margin for binding and a caption block on page 1.

Q. and A. format

Testimony is set in question-and-answer form with 'Q.' and 'A.' at the left margin; speaker designations appear in full caps followed by a colon.

Colloquy notation

Non-testimonial events such as '(Off the record.)' or '(Recess.)' are set off and indented in parentheses to distinguish them from testimony.

Transcript index

A front-matter list of witnesses, exhibits, and page/line references; exhibit pages are marked with the exhibit number in the margin.

Proofreading before certification

The reporter verifies speaker attribution, page/line references, and consistency of names, dates, and exhibit numbers before signing the certificate.

Errata sheet

A separate filing used to correct a certified transcript; the original transcript remains part of the record unless the court orders otherwise.

Caption block

The heading on page 1 of a transcript containing the court, case number, parties, and title of the proceeding, formatted per court rules.

Page and line numbering

Each transcript page is numbered sequentially and each line is numbered 1 through 25, enabling precise citations such as 'page 12, line 7'.

Exhibit page marking

Pages containing exhibits are marked with the exhibit number in the margin and indexed so the appellate court can locate them easily.

Impartiality duty

Court reporters must remain neutral and may not discuss case facts, testimony, or rulings with parties, counsel, or the public outside the record.

Confidentiality of transcripts

Transcripts and reporter notes are confidential court records; release requires a court order, statutory authorization, or consent as permitted by law.

Conflict of interest disclosure

A reporter must disclose any family or financial relationship with a party or counsel before accepting an assignment and must decline if impartiality is compromised.

Gifts and favors prohibition

Reporters may not accept gifts or favors that could influence transcript accuracy or timing; compensation is limited to authorized fees.

Ex parte communication ban

Reporters may not communicate ex parte with a judge or party about a pending matter; all substantive communication occurs on the record.

Records security

Reporters must secure notes, audio files, and drafts; electronic files are backed up and access is limited to authorized personnel.

False certification

Knowingly certifying a false or altered transcript is a professional violation and grounds for discipline under court rules and professional conduct standards.