AAERT CDR Exam Practice Test Court
Reporting 2026/2027 – Questions and Answers
100% Verified | Detailed Rationales – Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section 1: Working as a Legal Professional
10 Questions
Q1: A digital reporter is assigned to cover a deposition for a law firm that previously employed the
reporter's spouse as a paralegal. The spouse left the firm on good terms two years ago. What is the most
appropriate course of action regarding this situation?
A. Proceed with the assignment since the spouse no longer works there
B. Decline the assignment and disclose the potential conflict of interest to the assigning
agency [CORRECT]
C. Proceed but inform the attorney that the reporter's spouse used to work there
D. Accept the assignment and wait to see if anyone objects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under AAERT ethical standards, a digital reporter must avoid even the appearance of
impropriety. A spouse's prior employment with a firm involved in the proceeding creates a potential
conflict of interest that should be disclosed. The reporter should decline the assignment and inform the
agency, allowing them to assign an impartial reporter .
Q2: During a deposition break, an attorney offers a digital reporter a $50 gift card to a local coffee shop
as a token of appreciation for always being punctual. Which response best aligns with AAERT ethical
guidelines?
A. Accept the gift card since it is a small token and does not influence objectivity
B. Politely decline the gift and explain that accepting gifts from parties to a case is against professional
ethics [CORRECT]
,C. Accept the gift card but report it to the reporting firm's management
D. Accept the gift card only if all attorneys present agree to it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AAERT's Code of Professional Ethics prohibits reporters from accepting gifts from attorneys,
parties, or anyone connected to a case proceeding. Even small gifts can create the appearance of bias or
favoritism. The correct response is to politely decline and explain the ethical prohibition .
Q3: A digital reporter discovers that their cousin is a party in a case they have been assigned to cover.
What is the correct action?
A. Proceed with the deposition as scheduled since it is only a cousin
B. Disclose the relationship to all parties and offer to withdraw [CORRECT]
C. Proceed but mention the relationship casually during a break
D. Ask the cousin to request a different reporter without disclosing the reason
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A conflict of interest exists when the reporter has a personal or professional relationship with
any party involved in the case. The reporter should disclose the relationship to all parties and offer to
withdraw. Failure to do so could compromise the impartiality of the record and violate AAERT ethical
standards .
Q4: A digital reporter is working on a deposition that involves medical records. What is the reporter's
primary obligation regarding confidentiality?
A. Share the medical information with colleagues for training purposes
B. Ensure that any medical information disclosed during the proceeding is handled and stored securely
to prevent unauthorized access [CORRECT]
C. Discuss the medical information only with family members
D. Store the medical records in an unlocked file cabinet
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIPAA applies to the protection of individually identifiable health information. Digital
reporters must ensure that any medical information disclosed during a proceeding is handled and stored
securely to prevent unauthorized access. This is a fundamental confidentiality obligation .
Q5: Which of the following best describes the difference between ethical and unethical behavior for a
digital reporter according to AAERT standards?
, A. Ethical behavior means always following the judge's instructions without question
B. Ethical behavior means acting with integrity, impartiality, and in compliance with professional
codes regardless of personal interest [CORRECT]
C. Unethical behavior only occurs when a reporter intentionally alters a transcript
D. Ethical behavior is determined solely by what is legal in the reporter's jurisdiction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AAERT's ethical framework defines ethical behavior as conduct that demonstrates integrity,
impartiality, and adherence to the professional code of ethics, even when personal interests might
suggest another course. Ethics extends beyond mere legality and beyond merely following judicial
instructions .
Q6: A digital reporter who is also a notary public is scheduled to notarize a document for a family
member who is involved in a case the reporter recently covered. Which of the following actions should
the reporter take?
A. Proceed with the notarization since being a notary is separate from the reporting role
B. Decline the notarization due to the conflict of interest between the personal relationship and the
professional case connection [CORRECT]
C. Notarize the document but report it to the state notary board
D. Notarize the document and ask another notary to co-sign
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter should decline the notarization due to the conflict of interest between the
personal relationship and the professional case connection. Even though the notary role is separate
from the reporting role, the connection to a case the reporter covered creates an ethical conflict that
must be avoided .
Q7: A digital reporter learns that their firm has been overbilling clients by inflating transcript page
counts. The firm owner instructs the reporter not to mention this to anyone. What should the reporter
do?
A. Follow the owner's instructions to protect their job
B. Report the fraudulent billing to the appropriate authority [CORRECT]
C. Confront the owner and demand they stop the practice
D. Quietly leave the firm without reporting anything
Correct Answer: B
Reporting 2026/2027 – Questions and Answers
100% Verified | Detailed Rationales – Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section 1: Working as a Legal Professional
10 Questions
Q1: A digital reporter is assigned to cover a deposition for a law firm that previously employed the
reporter's spouse as a paralegal. The spouse left the firm on good terms two years ago. What is the most
appropriate course of action regarding this situation?
A. Proceed with the assignment since the spouse no longer works there
B. Decline the assignment and disclose the potential conflict of interest to the assigning
agency [CORRECT]
C. Proceed but inform the attorney that the reporter's spouse used to work there
D. Accept the assignment and wait to see if anyone objects
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Under AAERT ethical standards, a digital reporter must avoid even the appearance of
impropriety. A spouse's prior employment with a firm involved in the proceeding creates a potential
conflict of interest that should be disclosed. The reporter should decline the assignment and inform the
agency, allowing them to assign an impartial reporter .
Q2: During a deposition break, an attorney offers a digital reporter a $50 gift card to a local coffee shop
as a token of appreciation for always being punctual. Which response best aligns with AAERT ethical
guidelines?
A. Accept the gift card since it is a small token and does not influence objectivity
B. Politely decline the gift and explain that accepting gifts from parties to a case is against professional
ethics [CORRECT]
,C. Accept the gift card but report it to the reporting firm's management
D. Accept the gift card only if all attorneys present agree to it
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AAERT's Code of Professional Ethics prohibits reporters from accepting gifts from attorneys,
parties, or anyone connected to a case proceeding. Even small gifts can create the appearance of bias or
favoritism. The correct response is to politely decline and explain the ethical prohibition .
Q3: A digital reporter discovers that their cousin is a party in a case they have been assigned to cover.
What is the correct action?
A. Proceed with the deposition as scheduled since it is only a cousin
B. Disclose the relationship to all parties and offer to withdraw [CORRECT]
C. Proceed but mention the relationship casually during a break
D. Ask the cousin to request a different reporter without disclosing the reason
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A conflict of interest exists when the reporter has a personal or professional relationship with
any party involved in the case. The reporter should disclose the relationship to all parties and offer to
withdraw. Failure to do so could compromise the impartiality of the record and violate AAERT ethical
standards .
Q4: A digital reporter is working on a deposition that involves medical records. What is the reporter's
primary obligation regarding confidentiality?
A. Share the medical information with colleagues for training purposes
B. Ensure that any medical information disclosed during the proceeding is handled and stored securely
to prevent unauthorized access [CORRECT]
C. Discuss the medical information only with family members
D. Store the medical records in an unlocked file cabinet
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: HIPAA applies to the protection of individually identifiable health information. Digital
reporters must ensure that any medical information disclosed during a proceeding is handled and stored
securely to prevent unauthorized access. This is a fundamental confidentiality obligation .
Q5: Which of the following best describes the difference between ethical and unethical behavior for a
digital reporter according to AAERT standards?
, A. Ethical behavior means always following the judge's instructions without question
B. Ethical behavior means acting with integrity, impartiality, and in compliance with professional
codes regardless of personal interest [CORRECT]
C. Unethical behavior only occurs when a reporter intentionally alters a transcript
D. Ethical behavior is determined solely by what is legal in the reporter's jurisdiction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: AAERT's ethical framework defines ethical behavior as conduct that demonstrates integrity,
impartiality, and adherence to the professional code of ethics, even when personal interests might
suggest another course. Ethics extends beyond mere legality and beyond merely following judicial
instructions .
Q6: A digital reporter who is also a notary public is scheduled to notarize a document for a family
member who is involved in a case the reporter recently covered. Which of the following actions should
the reporter take?
A. Proceed with the notarization since being a notary is separate from the reporting role
B. Decline the notarization due to the conflict of interest between the personal relationship and the
professional case connection [CORRECT]
C. Notarize the document but report it to the state notary board
D. Notarize the document and ask another notary to co-sign
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The reporter should decline the notarization due to the conflict of interest between the
personal relationship and the professional case connection. Even though the notary role is separate
from the reporting role, the connection to a case the reporter covered creates an ethical conflict that
must be avoided .
Q7: A digital reporter learns that their firm has been overbilling clients by inflating transcript page
counts. The firm owner instructs the reporter not to mention this to anyone. What should the reporter
do?
A. Follow the owner's instructions to protect their job
B. Report the fraudulent billing to the appropriate authority [CORRECT]
C. Confront the owner and demand they stop the practice
D. Quietly leave the firm without reporting anything
Correct Answer: B
