AAERT CDR EXAM PREP 2026: 300
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS COVERING LEGAL
PROCEDURES, AUDIO TECHNOLOGY,
AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
• 1. Is it appropriate for the reporter to interrupt after a witness has
answered a question non-verbally and ask the witness to answer out
loud? Answer: Yes .
• 2. In the event of an electronic failure, whose responsibility is it to
interrupt the proceeding? Answer: The digital court reporter .
• 3. Which is preferable when recording audio, a "live" or "dead"
room? Answer: Dead .
• 4. Is it true consistency is not important when making annotations
because the transcriptionist can usually figure it out? Answer: False .
• 5. What needs to happen when a certified question is requested? Answer:
The digital reporter should make an annotation about the certified question .
• 6. The ________ transcript is usually provided to the first attorney that
orders the transcript. Answer: Original .
• 7. A cardioid pickup pattern, aka unidirectional, is best when trying to
capture... Answer: A single speaking participant .
• 8. Is it true an annotation is required when an exhibit is entered on the
record, as well as the exhibit's description if said out loud? Answer: True .
• 9. Is it true every person present for a hearing or trial must be added to
the reporter's appearance sheet, including the onlookers seated in the
gallery? Answer: False .
• 10. What is NOT one of the reasons a reporter is asked to play
back? Answer: To make sure the reporter is properly recording the audio of
the proceeding .
• 11. Should you be on the record if during a deposition, one of the
lawyers says to go off the record and no one responds in agreement or
disagreement? Answer: On the record .
• 12. If there is an interpreter at the proceeding, when do you swear
him/her in? Answer: Before you swear in the witness .
• 13. The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into ______ regional
circuits. Answer: 12 .
• 14. If the top tier is number one in this scenario, put the following court
systems in order: State Supreme Court, Municipal Courts, Circuit or
, District Courts, Court of Appeals. Answer: State Supreme Court, Court of
Appeals, Circuit or District Courts, Municipal Courts .
• 15. Fill in the blank: The venue of a case is _________ the case is
________. Answer: The venue of a case is [WHERE] the case is [FILED] .
• 16. Fill in the blank: The three types of courts ________ courts, which have
been around the longest; ________ courts, which includes the United States
Tax Court, and the _______ Court, which is the third branch of the federal
government and includes the Circuit Courts of Appeal. Answer: [STATE]
courts, [FEDERAL] courts, and the [US SUPREME] Court .
• 17. True or False? State courts are independent of federal courts. Answer:
True .
• 18. Which term applies to the following definition? Types of cases or
issues a court is authorized to hear. For example, bankruptcy court can
only hear bankruptcy cases. Answer: Jurisdiction - subject matter .
• 19. AAERT standards are based on.... Answer: Federal rules .
• 20. True or False? When the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a matter, all
other courts now have to follow that. Answer: True .
• 21. Constitutionality is decided by which court? Answer: Supreme .
• 22. What does the venue (jurisdiction) of the case tell the reporter?
(Example of Venue: United States District Court of
Massachusetts.) Answer: Where the proceeding is taking place .
• 23. cardioid Answer: pick up pattern heart shaped (kardioeides) -reaches out
from diaphragm -single voice in front -super/ hyper more narrow areas of
sensitivity .
• 24. omnidirectional Answer: all directions -equal from all directions -Multiple
voices , one microphone -more speakers than available recording channels -
switches allow for pu pattern change condenser -capsules can also be
changed to switch Pu pattern .
• 25. Dynamic Microphone Answer: moving coil -diaphragm, coil, magnet- -
diaphragm = flat plate @ The front of The Microphone -Bulky -energy-
diaphragm - coil moves back & forth over magnet- electrical signal travels
through wires w/ in mic - digital mixer .
• 26. Voir Dire Answer: a preliminary examination where a witnesses
qualifications are disclosed .
• 27. Curriculum Vitae Answer: list of professional accomplishments and
credentials .
• 28. lay witness Answer: strictly reciting the facts, not permitted to express
their opinions aka Percipient witness .
• 29. hearsay Answer: what a third party has told the witness .
• 30. Surprise witness Answer: limited to plaintiffs rebuttal or defendants
surrebuttal evidence -attempt to impeach evidence already presented .
• 31. Official Record Answer: the total body of evidence -oral, visual,
documentary, physical .
, • 32. Plaintiff Answer: a person who brings a case against another in a court of
law. -burden of proof .
• 33. differences between civil and criminal trials Answer: 1.Presumption of
innocence is only applied to criminal trials (civil-neither side's position is
presumed in advance) 2.Civil matters are decided by preponderance of
evidence where criminal matters are decided by evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt .
• 34. What is the correct order of examination? Answer: Direct examination,
cross-examination, redirect examination, recross-examination .
• 35. Conflict of interest Answer: A situation in which a person in a position of
responsibility or trust has competing professional or personal interests that
make it difficult to fulfill his or her duties impartially .
• 36. What is the certificate page of a transcript? Answer: The certified
signature page at the end of the transcript that verifies accuracy .
• 37. Certificate of Oath Answer: Certificate attached when witnesses are
sworn in .
• 38. Where can jurisdiction/venue be found? Answer: In the case caption
(case style) .
• 39. What is venue? Answer: Location where the case is filed and heard .
• 40. What are the three levels of the federal court system? Answer: U.S.
District Courts, U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal, U.S. Supreme Court .
• 41. What is a deposition? Answer: Sworn out of court testimony recorded for
discovery and trial preparation .
• 42. Deponent Answer: Person giving testimony during deposition .
• 43. affidavit Answer: written statement made under oath .
• 44. Stipulation Answer: Agreement between parties or attorneys regarding
procedural matters .
• 45. appeal Answer: Request for review by a higher court .
• 46. Is it true when a witness drops their speaking volume at the end of
their sentence, the digital court reporter must NOT interrupt the
proceedings? They should wait until a recess to inquire of the witness to
find out what was said. Answer: False .
• 47. In order to ensure a good quality recording the minimum number of
channels recommended for court proceedings is? Answer: Four .
• 48. When doing channel distribution, primary consideration should be
given to? Answer: which participants are likely to speak at the same time .
• 49. ________ are generally held to determine a court order or for some
procedural matters. Answer: Hearings .
• 50. True or False? Cases can settle without making it to court. Answer:
True .
• 51. A deposition is: Sworn out of court testimony recorded for discovery and
trial preparation.
• 52. Deponent: Person giving testimony during deposition.
VERIFIED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS COVERING LEGAL
PROCEDURES, AUDIO TECHNOLOGY,
AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
• 1. Is it appropriate for the reporter to interrupt after a witness has
answered a question non-verbally and ask the witness to answer out
loud? Answer: Yes .
• 2. In the event of an electronic failure, whose responsibility is it to
interrupt the proceeding? Answer: The digital court reporter .
• 3. Which is preferable when recording audio, a "live" or "dead"
room? Answer: Dead .
• 4. Is it true consistency is not important when making annotations
because the transcriptionist can usually figure it out? Answer: False .
• 5. What needs to happen when a certified question is requested? Answer:
The digital reporter should make an annotation about the certified question .
• 6. The ________ transcript is usually provided to the first attorney that
orders the transcript. Answer: Original .
• 7. A cardioid pickup pattern, aka unidirectional, is best when trying to
capture... Answer: A single speaking participant .
• 8. Is it true an annotation is required when an exhibit is entered on the
record, as well as the exhibit's description if said out loud? Answer: True .
• 9. Is it true every person present for a hearing or trial must be added to
the reporter's appearance sheet, including the onlookers seated in the
gallery? Answer: False .
• 10. What is NOT one of the reasons a reporter is asked to play
back? Answer: To make sure the reporter is properly recording the audio of
the proceeding .
• 11. Should you be on the record if during a deposition, one of the
lawyers says to go off the record and no one responds in agreement or
disagreement? Answer: On the record .
• 12. If there is an interpreter at the proceeding, when do you swear
him/her in? Answer: Before you swear in the witness .
• 13. The 94 Federal District Courts are organized into ______ regional
circuits. Answer: 12 .
• 14. If the top tier is number one in this scenario, put the following court
systems in order: State Supreme Court, Municipal Courts, Circuit or
, District Courts, Court of Appeals. Answer: State Supreme Court, Court of
Appeals, Circuit or District Courts, Municipal Courts .
• 15. Fill in the blank: The venue of a case is _________ the case is
________. Answer: The venue of a case is [WHERE] the case is [FILED] .
• 16. Fill in the blank: The three types of courts ________ courts, which have
been around the longest; ________ courts, which includes the United States
Tax Court, and the _______ Court, which is the third branch of the federal
government and includes the Circuit Courts of Appeal. Answer: [STATE]
courts, [FEDERAL] courts, and the [US SUPREME] Court .
• 17. True or False? State courts are independent of federal courts. Answer:
True .
• 18. Which term applies to the following definition? Types of cases or
issues a court is authorized to hear. For example, bankruptcy court can
only hear bankruptcy cases. Answer: Jurisdiction - subject matter .
• 19. AAERT standards are based on.... Answer: Federal rules .
• 20. True or False? When the U.S. Supreme Court rules on a matter, all
other courts now have to follow that. Answer: True .
• 21. Constitutionality is decided by which court? Answer: Supreme .
• 22. What does the venue (jurisdiction) of the case tell the reporter?
(Example of Venue: United States District Court of
Massachusetts.) Answer: Where the proceeding is taking place .
• 23. cardioid Answer: pick up pattern heart shaped (kardioeides) -reaches out
from diaphragm -single voice in front -super/ hyper more narrow areas of
sensitivity .
• 24. omnidirectional Answer: all directions -equal from all directions -Multiple
voices , one microphone -more speakers than available recording channels -
switches allow for pu pattern change condenser -capsules can also be
changed to switch Pu pattern .
• 25. Dynamic Microphone Answer: moving coil -diaphragm, coil, magnet- -
diaphragm = flat plate @ The front of The Microphone -Bulky -energy-
diaphragm - coil moves back & forth over magnet- electrical signal travels
through wires w/ in mic - digital mixer .
• 26. Voir Dire Answer: a preliminary examination where a witnesses
qualifications are disclosed .
• 27. Curriculum Vitae Answer: list of professional accomplishments and
credentials .
• 28. lay witness Answer: strictly reciting the facts, not permitted to express
their opinions aka Percipient witness .
• 29. hearsay Answer: what a third party has told the witness .
• 30. Surprise witness Answer: limited to plaintiffs rebuttal or defendants
surrebuttal evidence -attempt to impeach evidence already presented .
• 31. Official Record Answer: the total body of evidence -oral, visual,
documentary, physical .
, • 32. Plaintiff Answer: a person who brings a case against another in a court of
law. -burden of proof .
• 33. differences between civil and criminal trials Answer: 1.Presumption of
innocence is only applied to criminal trials (civil-neither side's position is
presumed in advance) 2.Civil matters are decided by preponderance of
evidence where criminal matters are decided by evidence beyond a
reasonable doubt .
• 34. What is the correct order of examination? Answer: Direct examination,
cross-examination, redirect examination, recross-examination .
• 35. Conflict of interest Answer: A situation in which a person in a position of
responsibility or trust has competing professional or personal interests that
make it difficult to fulfill his or her duties impartially .
• 36. What is the certificate page of a transcript? Answer: The certified
signature page at the end of the transcript that verifies accuracy .
• 37. Certificate of Oath Answer: Certificate attached when witnesses are
sworn in .
• 38. Where can jurisdiction/venue be found? Answer: In the case caption
(case style) .
• 39. What is venue? Answer: Location where the case is filed and heard .
• 40. What are the three levels of the federal court system? Answer: U.S.
District Courts, U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal, U.S. Supreme Court .
• 41. What is a deposition? Answer: Sworn out of court testimony recorded for
discovery and trial preparation .
• 42. Deponent Answer: Person giving testimony during deposition .
• 43. affidavit Answer: written statement made under oath .
• 44. Stipulation Answer: Agreement between parties or attorneys regarding
procedural matters .
• 45. appeal Answer: Request for review by a higher court .
• 46. Is it true when a witness drops their speaking volume at the end of
their sentence, the digital court reporter must NOT interrupt the
proceedings? They should wait until a recess to inquire of the witness to
find out what was said. Answer: False .
• 47. In order to ensure a good quality recording the minimum number of
channels recommended for court proceedings is? Answer: Four .
• 48. When doing channel distribution, primary consideration should be
given to? Answer: which participants are likely to speak at the same time .
• 49. ________ are generally held to determine a court order or for some
procedural matters. Answer: Hearings .
• 50. True or False? Cases can settle without making it to court. Answer:
True .
• 51. A deposition is: Sworn out of court testimony recorded for discovery and
trial preparation.
• 52. Deponent: Person giving testimony during deposition.
