Which of the following is a key ethical responsibility of a court reporter?

Maintaining confidentiality of the proceedings is a fundamental ethical responsibility of a court reporter. Court reporters are entrusted with sensitive information during legal proceedings, and their role includes ensuring that all testimony, discussions, and other courtroom interactions remain private. This confidentiality helps protect the rights of individuals involved in the legal process by ensuring that sensitive information is not disclosed improperly, thus upholding the integrity of the judicial system. Court reporters serve as neutral parties, and their commitment to confidentiality reinforces public trust in the legal process.

In contrast, advocating for one side in a court case undermines the impartiality that is crucial to a court reporter's role; their duty is to provide an accurate and unbiased record of the proceedings rather than to take sides. Altering transcripts for clarity, while it may seem beneficial, could lead to misrepresentation of what was said, potentially impacting the fairness of the trial. Finally, assisting witnesses in testifying can compromise the court reporter's neutrality and objectivity, as their primary function is to accurately document the proceedings without interference.