What is a crucial step a digital court reporter must take before a proceeding begins?

A crucial step for a digital court reporter before a proceeding begins is to conduct a pre-trial setup and check equipment functionality. This step ensures that all recording devices, microphones, and any necessary software are working properly and are appropriately set up to capture the proceedings accurately. It is vital to verify that the equipment is in good condition and functioning to prevent any technical issues that could compromise the integrity of the recording. This proactive measure allows the digital court reporter to focus on accurately capturing the spoken dialogue without interruptions or worries about potential equipment failures.

While editing recorded transcripts, meeting with the judge, and drafting a summary are important tasks, they do not directly address the immediate operational requirements before court begins. Hence, performing equipment checks stands out as a foundational responsibility to uphold the quality and reliability of legal documentation during the proceedings.