What should a CSR do when they encounter an inaudible portion of testimony?

When a CSR encounters an inaudible portion of testimony, marking it as "inaudible" with the timestamp in the transcript is essential for maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the record. This practice ensures that any gaps in the testimony are clearly documented, allowing readers of the transcript, including judges and attorneys, to understand where and when the inaudibility occurred. This notation serves as an important reference point during any potential reviews or appeals regarding the case.

Marking an inaudible segment also conveys to the parties involved that the CSR recognized the issue but was unable to capture the information, which is a critical aspect of the role in ensuring that the official record is as complete as possible. This way, any future actions or discussions surrounding that portion of testimony can take into account the gaps, as opposed to obscuring them or inaccurately guessing what was said.

Other approaches, such as ignoring the inaudible segment, asking for a repeat in real-time or reporting it to the judge immediately, do not formally address the requirement to maintain a clear and complete written record. Ignoring it could lead to misunderstandings about what transpired during the testimony, while asking for a repeat or reporting it to the judge may disrupt the flow of proceedings and may