Which two ethical considerations are most important for digital court reporters?

• A. Confidentiality of proceedings and accuracy
• B. Avoidance of conflicts of interest and maintaining neutrality
• C. Speed of transcription and cost efficiency
• D. Public accountability and transparency

Answer: (A)

The essential ethical obligation for a digital court reporter is to ensure the transcript faithfully reflects what happened while protecting sensitive information. Two aspects drive this: confidentiality of proceedings and accuracy of the transcription. Keeping proceedings confidential prevents the release of private or sensitive details that could affect participants’ safety or privacy and helps preserve the integrity of the judicial process. Accuracy is crucial because the transcript is the official record used for rulings, appeals, and future references; even small misstatements or omissions can change meanings, misrepresent testimony, or distort the outcome.

While other ethical concerns like neutrality and avoiding conflicts of interest are important in professional conduct, they relate to how a reporter carries out duties rather than the integrity of the record itself. Speed and cost are practical considerations, and transparency has its place, but they do not carry the same fundamental weight as maintaining a confidential, accurate record.