Breaking the silence on court reporter confidentiality
Previously on this blog, we discussed the ethics involved in realtime court reporting, specifically dealing with conflicts of interest. However, one of the biggest duties of working in the legal system involves confidentiality, an aspect of the job that groups like the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) take very seriously.
While accuracy and speed of work are usually looked upon as the primary qualities in a court reporter, they mean very little unless the individual treats the case and the official record as confidential information.
"As 'guardians of the record,' NCRA members and the court reporting profession as a whole have traditionally and historically placed the highest value on the accuracy, impartiality, security and confidentiality of the records they are creating," the NCRA says on its website. "While recognizing the need for efficiency and the client's legitimate desire to manage costs, ensuring the confidentiality and security of the information contained in the records that court reporters and health professionals create remains a fundamental and inviolable obligation."
According to the Kramm Court Reporting, those responsible for working a particular hearing or trial must be able to produce a confidential – or "attorneys' eyes only" – copy of the record upon request. This plays a large part in the reporter's role of allowing those in the legal proceedings to look back upon the record. However, they must be able to perform this task without compromising the integrity of the case at hand. In order for the reporter to remain an impartial part of the trial process, he or she must not allow any details to leak out into the hands of unwanted parties. If this were to happen, the eventual decision could be swayed.
The best way to make sure transcripts for local cases stay confidential is to seek out the services of a Milwaukee court reporter.
August 24th, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Re. San Bernardino Co. Ca.
Are court reporters allowed to gossip to their neighbors about a case they were a reporter for, if they both know of the person personally? “so and so down the street, did you know she got in trouble for____” says court reporter neighbor to her neighbor, about another neighbor. ?? seems pretty iffy
Thanks.
p.s. I realize , at least in this county, charges and other rudimentary case info is avail online at court open access site for public to see if they know your name, but still for the court reporter to share…………