Alabama Administrative Code › Title 257 - ALABAMA BOARD OF COURT REPORTERS › Chapter 257-X-4 - STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT › Section 257-X-4-.01 - Standards Of Professional Conduct

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1) In order to establish and maintain a high
			 standard of integrity in the practice of court reporting, the following
			 Standards of Professional Conduct shall be binding on every person holding a
			 CCR (Certified Court Reporter) or a Temporary License from the Board:
(a) A licensee shall be fair and impartial
			 toward each participant in all aspects of reported proceedings.
(b) A licensee should only accept an
			 assignment if his/her level of competence will result in the preparation of an
			 accurate transcript and will remove himself/herself from an assignment if
			 he/she believes his or her abilities are inadequate, recommending or assigning
			 another licensee only if such licensee has the competence required for such
			 assignment.
(c) A licensee, if
			 requested, shall provide information regarding services to be rendered
			 regarding administration of professional services to all parties. The licensee
			 must strive to meet promised delivery dates whenever possible, make timely
			 delivery of transcripts when no date is specified and provide immediate
			 notification of delays.
(d) A
			 licensee shall be alert to situations that are conflicts of interest or that
			 may give the appearance of a conflict of interest. If a conflict arises, the
			 licensee must disclose that conflict or potential conflict.
(e) A licensee who becomes impaired and
			 unable to function according to the standards of practice should immediately
			 seek inactive status and refrain from practice. It is the licensee's
			 responsibility to seek supervision and/or personal therapy for any problem that
			 is interfering with the ability to perform professional services.
(f) A licensee shall preserve the
			 confidentiality and ensure the security of information, oral or written,
			 entrusted to the licensee by any and all of the parties in the
			 proceeding.
(g) It is the
			 licensee's responsibility to preserve his/her shorthand notes and audio files
			 (if any) for a period of no less than five (5) years, except as otherwise
			 prescribed by law, e.g. the Alabama Unified Judicial System's Records Retention
			 Schedule for the Circuit, District, Juvenile and Municipal Courts, through
			 storage of the audio files and the original paper notes and/or an electronic
			 copy of either the shorthand notes or the English transcript of the notes on
			 computer disks, cassettes, backup tape systems, or optical or laser disk
			 systems.
(h) Once the transcript is
			 prepared, audio files (if any) must be maintained for one (1) year from the
			 date the transcript is filed.
(i)
			 Audio files are the property of the licensee and shall be provided by request
			 at the licensee's discretion or by order of the Court.
(j) A licensee's signature, license number,
			 and expiration date, and the date the transcript was certified shall be affixed
			 to a transcript of his/her stenographic notes to certify to its correctness if
			 the transcript has been prepared by him/her or under his/her direct
			 supervision.
(k) A licensee shall
			 not permit the use of his/her name or firm's name, nor shall a licensee be
			 associated in business ventures with persons or firms that the licensee has
			 reason to believe to be engaging in fraudulent or dishonest business practices.
(l) A licensee having knowledge of
			 any alleged violation of the Court Reporter Act shall cooperate with the Board
			 of Court Reporting or appropriate governmental agency, furnishing such
			 information or assistance as may be required to conduct an investigation
			 resulting from a complaint.
(m) A
			 licensee shall be truthful and accurate when making public statements or when
			 advertising qualifications or services provided.
(n) A licensee shall meet all mandated
			 continuing education requirements and should keep abreast of current literature
			 and technological advances and developments.
(o) Licensees having knowledge of
			 possible/probable violations of any of these Rules and Regulations shall file a
			 complaint form with the Board and cooperate as necessary with the Board
			 investigation of such violation.