Skip to content
DepoStack
Join the waitlist

The final check.

Look through a finished sample transcript and find what is missing before it goes out.

Practice only5 drills in this lesson.Final check

Read first.

A rough draft and a certified transcript are different products. California’s statute says a rough draft “may not be certified and may not be used, cited, or transcribed as the certified transcript of the deposition proceedings.” When the final goes out, the rough’s marks must not.

Sources: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 2025.540, (b); Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 4; The guide: The finished transcript.

Editors never change the substance; the witness changes it through errata. (NCRA names the other routes: a written agreement of all parties, or a ruling of the court.) Under Rule 30(e), on request before the deposition is completed, the deponent has 30 days to review the transcript and sign a statement listing any changes and the reasons, and the officer “must note in the certificate prescribed by Rule 30(f)(1) whether a review was requested and, if so, must attach any changes.”

Sources: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(e); NCRA Advisory Opinion 4.

The final production check.

  1. Title page matches the case style, number, date, time, and place.
  2. Appearances list everyone present, and show who was remote.
  3. The oath is reflected, and the interpreter’s where one was used.
  4. Indexes: every examination and exhibit indexed to the right page.
  5. Speaker IDs, bylines, and special terms swept after the read.
  6. Numbers, dates, Bates, and money checked against the audio and the exhibits.
  7. Spellcheck and doubled words; the preference sheet applied throughout.
  8. The closing statement, with any stipulations about custody.
  9. The certificate: the oath, the accuracy of the record, whether review was requested.
  10. A signature and errata page where read and sign was not waived.
  11. No rough-draft labels or page and line references left over.
  12. The electronic copy meets its rules.
  13. Confidential volumes line up with the open transcript.

DepoStack’s synthesis, not a published checklist: we found no NCRA or trainer checklist for the final review.

Where the evidence stops: we found no published accuracy standard for a finished transcript and no recognized credential for steno scopists. The legal bar is qualitative: the deposition “accurately records the witness’s testimony.”

Sources: The guide: What nobody has measured; Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(f)(1).

Read more in the guide: The finished transcript; What nobody has measured.

Drills.

Final check: page through the finished transcript with its tabs, then say what is missing or left over.

The drills answer back with JavaScript on. Without it, every sample is here, and each drill’s answers and reasons are in its key.

Your progress stays in this browser only. There is no account, and nothing you tap is sent anywhere.

Drill 1: Before it goes out

Final check

This finished sample transcript is about to be delivered. Look through its pages. What is missing?

Synthetic testimony Title page, page 1
  1. Line 1 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAMPLE COUNTY
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 In re Sample Matter
  4. Line 4 Case No. 00-SAMPLE-0000
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 DEPOSITION OF CHARLIE DELTA
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9 Tuesday, May 4, 2027
  10. Line 10 10:02 a.m. to 11:48 a.m.
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12 100 Sample Street, Sample City
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15 Reported by: ____________________
  16. Line 16 Certified Shorthand Reporter
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Appearances, page 2
  1. Line 1 APPEARANCES
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 For the Plaintiff:
  4. Line 4 MS. ALPHA
  5. Line 5 Sample Law Office
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 For the Defendant:
  8. Line 8 MR. BRAVO
  9. Line 9 Sample Defense Group
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11 Also present:
  12. Line 12 THE VIDEOGRAPHER
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Index, page 3
  1. Line 1 INDEX
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 WITNESS: CHARLIE DELTA
  4. Line 4 Examination by Ms. Alpha ............ 4
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6 EXHIBITS
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8 No. Description Page
  9. Line 9 1 Delivery invoice ..................... 4
  10. Line 10 2 Bill of lading ....................... 5
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 4
  1. Line 1 (Witness sworn.)
  2. Line 2 CHARLIE DELTA, having been first duly
  3. Line 3 sworn, testified as follows:
  4. Line 4
  5. Line 5 EXAMINATION
  6. Line 6 BY MS. ALPHA:
  7. Line 7 Q. Please state your name for the record.
  8. Line 8 A. Charlie Delta.
  9. Line 9 Q. You worked at the warehouse in March?
  10. Line 10 A. Yes.
  11. Line 11 (Exhibit 1 marked.)
  12. Line 12 Q. What is Exhibit 1?
  13. Line 13 A. My invoice from the fifteenth.
  14. Line 14 Q. Who signed it?
  15. Line 15 A. I did.
  16. Line 16 Q. And the boxes on it, you counted them?
  17. Line 17 A. I counted them on the dock.
  18. Line 18 Q. All of them?
  19. Line 19 A. All of them.
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 5
  1. Line 1 (Exhibit 2 marked.)
  2. Line 2 Q. Is Exhibit 2 the bill of lading?
  3. Line 3 A. That’s it.
  4. Line 4 Q. Does it match the invoice?
  5. Line 5 A. The count’s the same.
  6. Line 6 Q. Did anyone else count them?
  7. Line 7 A. No.
  8. Line 8 Q. Thank you. Those are my questions.
  9. Line 9 MR. BRAVO:No questions.
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Close, page 6
  1. Line 1 THE VIDEOGRAPHER:This concludes the deposition.
  2. Line 2 We are off the record at 11:48 a.m.
  3. Line 3 (Signature waived.)
  4. Line 4 (Deposition concluded at 11:48 a.m.)
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Answers, with the reasons

  1. The certificate (the answer)

    The pages end at the close; there is no certificate. Under Rule 30(f)(1) the officer “must certify in writing that the witness was duly sworn and that the deposition accurately records the witness’s testimony.”

    Sources: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(f)(1); Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 2025.540, (a); The guide: The finished transcript.

  2. An exhibit in the index

    Both marked exhibits, 1 and 2, are in the index on the right pages.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 13.

  3. The signature and errata page

    The witness waived signature on the record, so no signature page is needed here.

    Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(e).

  4. A rough-draft label left on a page

    No page carries a rough-draft label.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 4.

  5. Who appeared remotely

    Everyone attended in person here, so there is no remote attendance to show.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 11.

  6. Nothing: it is ready to go

    Look again at the last page: the transcript ends without the reporter’s certificate.

    Source: The guide: The finished transcript.

Drill 2: Three exhibits marked

Final check

Look through this finished sample transcript and its attached exhibit. What doesn’t reconcile?

Synthetic testimony Title page, page 1
  1. Line 1 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAMPLE COUNTY
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 In re Sample Matter
  4. Line 4 Case No. 00-SAMPLE-0000
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 DEPOSITION OF CHARLIE DELTA
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9 Tuesday, May 4, 2027
  10. Line 10 10:02 a.m. to 11:48 a.m.
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12 100 Sample Street, Sample City
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15 Reported by: ____________________
  16. Line 16 Certified Shorthand Reporter
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Appearances, page 2
  1. Line 1 APPEARANCES
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 For the Plaintiff:
  4. Line 4 MS. ALPHA
  5. Line 5 Sample Law Office
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 For the Defendant:
  8. Line 8 MR. BRAVO
  9. Line 9 Sample Defense Group
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11 Also present:
  12. Line 12 THE VIDEOGRAPHER
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Index, page 3
  1. Line 1 INDEX
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 WITNESS: CHARLIE DELTA
  4. Line 4 Examination by Ms. Alpha ............ 4
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6 EXHIBITS
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8 No. Description Page
  9. Line 9 1 Delivery invoice ..................... 4
  10. Line 10 2 Bill of lading ....................... 5
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 4
  1. Line 1 (Witness sworn.)
  2. Line 2 CHARLIE DELTA, having been first duly
  3. Line 3 sworn, testified as follows:
  4. Line 4
  5. Line 5 EXAMINATION
  6. Line 6 BY MS. ALPHA:
  7. Line 7 Q. Please state your name for the record.
  8. Line 8 A. Charlie Delta.
  9. Line 9 Q. You worked at the warehouse in March?
  10. Line 10 A. Yes.
  11. Line 11 (Exhibit 1 marked.)
  12. Line 12 Q. What is Exhibit 1?
  13. Line 13 A. My invoice from the fifteenth.
  14. Line 14 Q. Who signed it?
  15. Line 15 A. I did.
  16. Line 16 Q. And the boxes on it, you counted them?
  17. Line 17 A. I counted them on the dock.
  18. Line 18 Q. All of them?
  19. Line 19 A. All of them.
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 5
  1. Line 1 (Exhibit 2 marked.)
  2. Line 2 Q. Is Exhibit 2 the bill of lading?
  3. Line 3 A. That’s it.
  4. Line 4 Q. Does it match the invoice?
  5. Line 5 A. The count’s the same.
  6. Line 6 (Exhibit 3 marked.)
  7. Line 7 Q. And Exhibit 3?
  8. Line 8 A. The receipt from the front desk.
  9. Line 9 Q. Thank you. Those are my questions.
  10. Line 10 MR. BRAVO:No questions.
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Close, page 6
  1. Line 1 THE VIDEOGRAPHER:This concludes the deposition.
  2. Line 2 We are off the record at 11:48 a.m.
  3. Line 3 (Signature waived.)
  4. Line 4 (Deposition concluded at 11:48 a.m.)
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Certificate, page 7
  1. Line 1 CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 I, the undersigned, certify that the witness
  4. Line 4 was duly sworn, and that the foregoing is a
  5. Line 5 true record of the testimony given.
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 Review of the transcript was not requested.
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9 Dated: ____________________
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11 ____________________
  12. Line 12 Certified Shorthand Reporter
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Exhibit3

Attached exhibit (synthetic): the receipt from the front desk.

Answers, with the reasons

  1. The certificate

    The certificate is there, on page 7.

    Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(f)(1).

  2. An exhibit in the index (the answer)

    Exhibit 3 was marked on page 5 and is attached, but the index lists only 1 and 2. Reconcile every “marked” reference with the exhibit index; California’s Board suggests an “Exhibit Index.”

    Sources: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 13; The guide: The finished transcript.

  3. The signature and errata page

    Signature was waived on the record, so no signature page is needed.

    Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(e).

  4. A rough-draft label left on a page

    No page carries a rough-draft label.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 4.

  5. Who appeared remotely

    Everyone attended in person here.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 11.

  6. Nothing: it is ready to go

    Count the “marked” parentheticals against the index. One exhibit is missing from it.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 13.

Drill 3: Read and sign

Final check

In this finished sample transcript, the witness will read and sign. What is missing?

Synthetic testimony Title page, page 1
  1. Line 1 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAMPLE COUNTY
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 In re Sample Matter
  4. Line 4 Case No. 00-SAMPLE-0000
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 DEPOSITION OF CHARLIE DELTA
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9 Tuesday, May 4, 2027
  10. Line 10 10:02 a.m. to 11:48 a.m.
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12 100 Sample Street, Sample City
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15 Reported by: ____________________
  16. Line 16 Certified Shorthand Reporter
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Appearances, page 2
  1. Line 1 APPEARANCES
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 For the Plaintiff:
  4. Line 4 MS. ALPHA
  5. Line 5 Sample Law Office
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 For the Defendant:
  8. Line 8 MR. BRAVO
  9. Line 9 Sample Defense Group
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11 Also present:
  12. Line 12 THE VIDEOGRAPHER
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Index, page 3
  1. Line 1 INDEX
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 WITNESS: CHARLIE DELTA
  4. Line 4 Examination by Ms. Alpha ............ 4
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6 EXHIBITS
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8 No. Description Page
  9. Line 9 1 Delivery invoice ..................... 4
  10. Line 10 2 Bill of lading ....................... 5
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 4
  1. Line 1 (Witness sworn.)
  2. Line 2 CHARLIE DELTA, having been first duly
  3. Line 3 sworn, testified as follows:
  4. Line 4
  5. Line 5 EXAMINATION
  6. Line 6 BY MS. ALPHA:
  7. Line 7 Q. Please state your name for the record.
  8. Line 8 A. Charlie Delta.
  9. Line 9 Q. You worked at the warehouse in March?
  10. Line 10 A. Yes.
  11. Line 11 (Exhibit 1 marked.)
  12. Line 12 Q. What is Exhibit 1?
  13. Line 13 A. My invoice from the fifteenth.
  14. Line 14 Q. Who signed it?
  15. Line 15 A. I did.
  16. Line 16 Q. And the boxes on it, you counted them?
  17. Line 17 A. I counted them on the dock.
  18. Line 18 Q. All of them?
  19. Line 19 A. All of them.
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 5
  1. Line 1 (Exhibit 2 marked.)
  2. Line 2 Q. Is Exhibit 2 the bill of lading?
  3. Line 3 A. That’s it.
  4. Line 4 Q. Does it match the invoice?
  5. Line 5 A. The count’s the same.
  6. Line 6 Q. Did anyone else count them?
  7. Line 7 A. No.
  8. Line 8 Q. Thank you. Those are my questions.
  9. Line 9 MR. BRAVO:No questions.
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Close, page 6
  1. Line 1 THE VIDEOGRAPHER:This concludes the deposition.
  2. Line 2 We are off the record at 11:48 a.m.
  3. Line 3 MR. BRAVO:We’d like the witness to read and
  4. Line 4 sign.
  5. Line 5 (Signature reserved.)
  6. Line 6 (Deposition concluded at 11:48 a.m.)
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Certificate, page 7
  1. Line 1 CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 I, the undersigned, certify that the witness
  4. Line 4 was duly sworn, and that the foregoing is a
  5. Line 5 true record of the testimony given.
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 Review of the transcript was requested.
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9 Dated: ____________________
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11 ____________________
  12. Line 12 Certified Shorthand Reporter
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Answers, with the reasons

  1. The certificate

    The certificate is there, and it notes that review was requested, as Rule 30(e)(2) asks.

    Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(e).

  2. An exhibit in the index

    The two exhibits are indexed on the right pages.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 13.

  3. The signature and errata page (the answer)

    Signature was reserved on the record, so the witness needs a signature and errata page. Rule 30(e) gives the deponent 30 days to review and sign a statement of changes; California and Texas set their own review rules.

    Sources: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(e); Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 2025.520; Texas Rules of Civil Procedure 203.

  4. A rough-draft label left on a page

    No page carries a rough-draft label.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 4.

  5. Who appeared remotely

    Everyone attended in person here.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 11.

  6. Nothing: it is ready to go

    Read the close again: signature was reserved, and nothing follows the certificate for the witness to sign.

    Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(e).

Drill 4: Something left over

Final check

This finished sample transcript has everything it needs. Is anything left on it that shouldn’t be?

Synthetic testimony Title page, page 1
  1. Line 1 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAMPLE COUNTY
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 In re Sample Matter
  4. Line 4 Case No. 00-SAMPLE-0000
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 DEPOSITION OF CHARLIE DELTA
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9 Tuesday, May 4, 2027
  10. Line 10 10:02 a.m. to 11:48 a.m.
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12 100 Sample Street, Sample City
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15 Reported by: ____________________
  16. Line 16 Certified Shorthand Reporter
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Appearances, page 2
  1. Line 1 APPEARANCES
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 For the Plaintiff:
  4. Line 4 MS. ALPHA
  5. Line 5 Sample Law Office
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 For the Defendant:
  8. Line 8 MR. BRAVO
  9. Line 9 Sample Defense Group
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11 Also present:
  12. Line 12 THE VIDEOGRAPHER
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Index, page 3
  1. Line 1 INDEX
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 WITNESS: CHARLIE DELTA
  4. Line 4 Examination by Ms. Alpha ............ 4
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6 EXHIBITS
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8 No. Description Page
  9. Line 9 1 Delivery invoice ..................... 4
  10. Line 10 2 Bill of lading ....................... 5
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 4
  1. Line 1 (Witness sworn.)
  2. Line 2 CHARLIE DELTA, having been first duly
  3. Line 3 sworn, testified as follows:
  4. Line 4
  5. Line 5 EXAMINATION
  6. Line 6 BY MS. ALPHA:
  7. Line 7 Q. Please state your name for the record.
  8. Line 8 A. Charlie Delta.
  9. Line 9 Q. You worked at the warehouse in March?
  10. Line 10 A. Yes.
  11. Line 11 (Exhibit 1 marked.)
  12. Line 12 Q. What is Exhibit 1?
  13. Line 13 A. My invoice from the fifteenth.
  14. Line 14 Q. Who signed it?
  15. Line 15 A. I did.
  16. Line 16 Q. And the boxes on it, you counted them?
  17. Line 17 A. I counted them on the dock.
  18. Line 18 Q. All of them?
  19. Line 19 A. All of them.
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
UNCERTIFIED DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 5
  1. Line 1 (Exhibit 2 marked.)
  2. Line 2 Q. Is Exhibit 2 the bill of lading?
  3. Line 3 A. That’s it.
  4. Line 4 Q. Does it match the invoice?
  5. Line 5 A. The count’s the same.
  6. Line 6 Q. Did anyone else count them?
  7. Line 7 A. No.
  8. Line 8 Q. Thank you. Those are my questions.
  9. Line 9 MR. BRAVO:No questions.
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Close, page 6
  1. Line 1 THE VIDEOGRAPHER:This concludes the deposition.
  2. Line 2 We are off the record at 11:48 a.m.
  3. Line 3 (Signature waived.)
  4. Line 4 (Deposition concluded at 11:48 a.m.)
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Certificate, page 7
  1. Line 1 CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 I, the undersigned, certify that the witness
  4. Line 4 was duly sworn, and that the foregoing is a
  5. Line 5 true record of the testimony given.
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 Review of the transcript was not requested.
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9 Dated: ____________________
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11 ____________________
  12. Line 12 Certified Shorthand Reporter
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Answers, with the reasons

  1. The certificate

    The certificate is there, on page 7.

    Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(f)(1).

  2. An exhibit in the index

    The two exhibits are indexed on the right pages.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 13.

  3. The signature and errata page

    Signature was waived on the record, so no signature page is needed.

    Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(e).

  4. A rough-draft label left on a page (the answer)

    Page 5 still carries “UNCERTIFIED DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY,” the label NCRA’s guidelines put on a rough draft. A rough draft may not be used as the certified transcript, and its labels come off the final.

    Sources: NCRA COPE Guidelines for Professional Practice; Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 4; Texas Uniform Format Manual, § 4.2.

  5. Who appeared remotely

    Everyone attended in person here.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 11.

  6. Nothing: it is ready to go

    Look at the top of each testimony page. One still carries a rough draft’s label.

    Source: NCRA COPE Guidelines for Professional Practice.

Drill 5: A remote appearance

Final check

A California deposition, with one attorney by videoconference. What does this finished sample transcript leave out?

Synthetic testimony Title page, page 1
  1. Line 1 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF
  2. Line 2 CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAMPLE
  3. Line 3
  4. Line 4 In re Sample Matter
  5. Line 5 Case No. 00-SAMPLE-0000
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8 DEPOSITION OF CHARLIE DELTA
  9. Line 9
  10. Line 10 Tuesday, May 4, 2027
  11. Line 11 10:02 a.m. to 11:48 a.m.
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13 100 Sample Street, Sample City
  14. Line 14 and by videoconference
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17 Reported by: ____________________
  18. Line 18 Certified Shorthand Reporter
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Appearances, page 2
  1. Line 1 APPEARANCES
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 For the Plaintiff:
  4. Line 4 MS. ALPHA
  5. Line 5 Sample Law Office
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 For the Defendant:
  8. Line 8 MR. BRAVO
  9. Line 9 Sample Defense Group
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11 Also present:
  12. Line 12 THE VIDEOGRAPHER
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Index, page 3
  1. Line 1 INDEX
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 WITNESS: CHARLIE DELTA
  4. Line 4 Examination by Ms. Alpha ............ 4
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6 EXHIBITS
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8 No. Description Page
  9. Line 9 1 Delivery invoice ..................... 4
  10. Line 10 2 Bill of lading ....................... 5
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 4
  1. Line 1 (Witness sworn.)
  2. Line 2 CHARLIE DELTA, having been first duly
  3. Line 3 sworn, testified as follows:
  4. Line 4
  5. Line 5 EXAMINATION
  6. Line 6 BY MS. ALPHA:
  7. Line 7 Q. Please state your name for the record.
  8. Line 8 A. Charlie Delta.
  9. Line 9 MR. BRAVO:And Mr. Bravo, for the defendant,
  10. Line 10 appearing remotely by videoconference.
  11. Line 11 BY MS. ALPHA:
  12. Line 12 Q. You worked at the warehouse in March?
  13. Line 13 A. Yes.
  14. Line 14 (Exhibit 1 marked.)
  15. Line 15 Q. What is Exhibit 1?
  16. Line 16 A. My invoice from the fifteenth.
  17. Line 17 Q. Who signed it?
  18. Line 18 A. I did.
  19. Line 19 Q. And the boxes on it, you counted them?
  20. Line 20 A. I counted them on the dock.
  21. Line 21 Q. All of them?
  22. Line 22 A. All of them.
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Testimony, page 5
  1. Line 1 (Exhibit 2 marked.)
  2. Line 2 Q. Is Exhibit 2 the bill of lading?
  3. Line 3 A. That’s it.
  4. Line 4 Q. Does it match the invoice?
  5. Line 5 A. The count’s the same.
  6. Line 6 Q. Did anyone else count them?
  7. Line 7 A. No.
  8. Line 8 Q. Thank you. Those are my questions.
  9. Line 9 MR. BRAVO:No questions.
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Close, page 6
  1. Line 1 THE VIDEOGRAPHER:This concludes the deposition.
  2. Line 2 We are off the record at 11:48 a.m.
  3. Line 3 (Signature waived.)
  4. Line 4 (Deposition concluded at 11:48 a.m.)
  5. Line 5
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11
  12. Line 12
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Synthetic testimony Certificate, page 7
  1. Line 1 CERTIFICATE OF REPORTER
  2. Line 2
  3. Line 3 I, the undersigned, certify that the witness
  4. Line 4 was duly sworn, and that the foregoing is a
  5. Line 5 true record of the testimony given.
  6. Line 6
  7. Line 7 Review of the transcript was not requested.
  8. Line 8
  9. Line 9 Dated: ____________________
  10. Line 10
  11. Line 11 ____________________
  12. Line 12 Certified Shorthand Reporter
  13. Line 13
  14. Line 14
  15. Line 15
  16. Line 16
  17. Line 17
  18. Line 18
  19. Line 19
  20. Line 20
  21. Line 21
  22. Line 22
  23. Line 23
  24. Line 24
  25. Line 25
Answers, with the reasons

  1. The certificate

    The certificate is there, on page 7.

    Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(f)(1).

  2. An exhibit in the index

    The two exhibits are indexed on the right pages.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 13.

  3. The signature and errata page

    Signature was waived on the record, so no signature page is needed.

    Source: Fed. R. Civ. P. 30, 30(e).

  4. A rough-draft label left on a page

    No page carries a rough-draft label.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 4.

  5. Who appeared remotely (the answer)

    Mr. Bravo appeared by videoconference, as page 4 records, but the appearances don’t say so. California’s Board says the appearance page should show whether each “attendee was remote or in person.”

    Sources: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 11; The guide: The finished transcript.

  6. Nothing: it is ready to go

    Compare the appearances with page 4: one attorney appeared remotely, and the appearance page doesn’t show it.

    Source: Court Reporters Board of California, Pointer No. 11.

Recap.

  • A rough draft is not the certified transcript; its labels come off the final.
  • Editors never change the substance: the witness does, through errata, and otherwise only the parties’ written agreement or a court ruling. The certificate notes whether review was requested.
  • Reconcile every “marked” exhibit with the index, and show who attended remotely.
  • The thirteen-point check is DepoStack’s synthesis, not a published standard: we found no published accuracy standard and no scopist credential.

Free practice, not a credential. No certificate or credential: this course awards none, and we found no recognized credential for steno scopists.