What role does a court reporter have in relation to the parties in a trial or deposition?

A court reporter plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the legal process during trials and depositions. The primary responsibility of a court reporter is to transcribe the spoken words during these proceedings into written form. In fulfilling this duty, it is essential for the court reporter to remain impartial and treat all parties equally. This impartiality ensures that the official record of the proceedings is unbiased, allowing for a fair representation of what occurred.

Remaining neutral helps to foster trust in the legal process. If a court reporter were to actively participate in legal discussions, serve as a witness, or become a party within the proceedings, it could compromise the perceived objectivity of the record. These actions could lead to conflicts of interest or biases that could affect the outcome of a trial or deposition. Therefore, the role of the court reporter is strictly as an unbiased facilitator of the record, underscoring the importance of impartiality in legal proceedings.