How should a court reporter read back inappropriate language from a witness?

Reading back testimony that includes inappropriate language requires the court reporter to maintain accuracy and integrity in their work. When a court reporter reads back verbatim in a normal tone of voice, they are adhering to the principle of providing an accurate and complete record of the proceedings.

This approach supports the legal process by ensuring that all statements made during testimony are preserved as they were presented, which is crucial for both the court's understanding and for any potential appeals or reviews later on. Using a normal tone of voice conveys the information as it was intended and respects the context of the testimony.

Disguising the tone or modifying the language can lead to a misrepresentation of what was actually said, while removing inappropriate words undermines the court's need for a precise and comprehensive record. Providing a summary instead of a verbatim account would similarly detract from the accuracy required in legal documentation and could obscure important nuances in the witness's testimony. Therefore, reading back verbatim in a normal tone of voice is the correct practice for court reporters when handling potentially inappropriate language from witnesses.