Court Reporter Practice Exam

Do court reporters typically transcribe preliminary examinations?

1. No, it is not part of their duty

2. Only if evidence is presented

3. Yes, they are usually assigned to take them down

4. They only handle final trials

The correct answer is: Yes, they are usually assigned to take them down

Court reporters are tasked with creating verbatim transcripts of legal proceedings, which includes preliminary examinations. These examinations serve as a crucial part of the legal process where evidence may be presented, and testimony is taken to determine whether there is enough ground for a trial. Since court reporters are trained to accurately capture and document spoken dialogue, it is typical for them to be assigned to transcribe these proceedings. In contrast, initial statements suggesting court reporters do not handle preliminary examinations overlook the comprehensive role they play in various legal contexts. Additionally, the notion that they only record trials fails to recognize the complexity of their responsibilities, which extend to capturing significant pre-trial discussions and evidence presentation. Thus, the correct answer highlights the essential function court reporters fulfill in preliminary examinations as part of their overall duties in the judicial system.