A court reporter plays a crucial role during the judicial process. They sit in on civil and criminal cases and transcribe the court testimony of both sides. Attorneys use this documentation to stay abreast of the latest information regarding their case. However, court reporting becomes even more crucial if someone wants to appeal the case. Here’s more information about how court reporters support appeals.

Why Cases Are Appealed

In a criminal case, only the defendant may appeal it. For civil matters, either the plaintiff or defendant can appeal the verdict. An appeal is issued when one party believes that a legal error was made that affected the court’s decision. Legal errors include using improperly admitted evidence and incorrect jury instructions or a lack of sufficient evidence. A case can also be appealed for juror misconduct and ineffective legal counsel.

If a party feels any of these issues affected their trial, their attorney will prepare a document to outline the legal reasoning for the appeal. A panel of three judges will view the document to decide whether the initial ruling was fair.

Why Court Reporters Are Important for Appeals

A court reporter’s responsibility includes creating a verbatim record of everything that’s said during a trial. This includes the testimonies, objections, evidence admissions, and any in-court rulings. They track what was said and when then provide an accurate and complete record of the proceedings—this becomes the official court record.

The panel of judges can’t receive any new evidence or testimonies when reviewing a case for an appeal. Instead, they must rely solely on the court record provided by the stenographer. Anything not included in the official transcript can’t be weighed by the judges, which is many attorneys always have a court reporter documenting the proceedings.

 

If you want to hire a court reporter to record an upcoming case, contact the team at Ralph Rosenberg-Court Reporters in Honolulu, HI. These professionals have at least 15 years of reporting experience, and they’ll provide you with an accurate account of the case’s progression and outcome. To get more information about their services, visit the website or call (808) 524-2090.