In situations where parties are speaking over one another, how should a court reporter respond?

The most appropriate response for a court reporter in situations where parties are speaking over one another is to politely interrupt and request that they speak one at a time. This approach ensures that the record remains clear and accurate, which is paramount in court settings.

By asking the speakers to adhere to one-at-a-time communication, the court reporter actively maintains the integrity of the transcript. Overlapping speech can lead to confusion and inaccuracies in the record, making it difficult for anyone reviewing the transcripts later to discern who said what. A clear and orderly record is essential for legal proceedings, as it supports the judicial process and ensures that all parties have an accurate understanding of what was communicated.

In contrast, ignoring overlapping speech would compromise the quality of the record, while simply recording everything as best as possible might still miss important parts of the conversation due to the overlap. Waiting for the conversation to settle might result in significant delays in proceedings and could frustrate the parties involved. Thus, the best practice is to foster an environment of clear communication, which is achieved by encouraging speakers to address the court one at a time.