Court reporting is a critical part of the legal process and the quality of work delivered by the court reporters in Georgia can make a difference in the verdict the judge or jury handling the case will give. The official transcript of records produced by the court reporter can also help the attorneys of both parties to prepare for the trial and study the case. Because of the important role they play in the legal process, court reporters need to possess extraordinary skills, something that can’t easily be acquired.
There is so much to do in taking a deposition and making the record. The competent court reporters for legal matters need to make sure that they keep up with the speed of the speaker and that they record every spoken word clearly, accurately, and quickly. It is also their ultimate goal to make the depositions useful and smooth. This does not only requires them to have excellent organizational skills but also they need to carry out a lot of careful planning and execution.
But how can you be able to prepare for a deposition to make sure that everything goes smoothly? Here are some tips from professionals who are experts in this matter- the certified court reporters.
Provide the court reporter with a full caption or Notice of Deposition
When setting the deposition schedule, make sure that you provide the court reporter or the court reporting agency with the full caption or Notice of Deposition. This keeps the court reporters well-informed, allowing them to be more prepared. Giving them the required information ahead of time will save you time and at the same time eliminate the need for you to provide such information during the deposition.
Some think it is no longer necessary to introduce oneself, especially if everybody in the room already knows each other. The fact is, introducing yourself properly at the start of every session can greatly help make the deposition smoother. So, if you are not yet doing this, make sure you introduce yourself first at the start of your next session. Present your card to the court reporter and then indicate whom you are representing or working for.
Give the witness complete and concise instruction
Make sure to give the witness a complete and concise instruction before the deposition begins. Let the witness know and understand what he needs to do during the interrogation process. Ask him to speak clearly and to let the attorney complete the question first before he gives his answer. The court reporter can only record one person speaking at a time. Interrupting while the other is still speaking will only leave unfinished or hanging sentences on the record, which may affect the accuracy of the record and create confusion later on. Also, instruct the witness to answer in words rather than in action. The court reporter is not allowed to interpret any actions demonstrated by the witness like nodding or shaking of the head.
Have the witness introduce himself properly
Before the interrogation, make sure to have the witness introduce himself properly. Also ask him to spell his full name and provide additional information such as the address, phone number, and place of employment. By doing this, the court reporter can be able to record the information accurately and spell the name correctly.
Allow regular breaks
The work of a court reporter is quite physically and mentally exhausting. When people start to feel exhausted, the quality of their work will decline and the output may suffer. The same is true with court reporters. To avoid such a scenario, make sure to allow regular breaks during the deposition. For instance, you can have 10 minute break every hour. Though short, this can give the court reporter time to relax for a while and start fresh again.
Follow these tips and you will be able to make a clear, accurate, and useful deposition record which you can use for court cases or even for impeachment purposes.