Tag: Atlanta court reporter

Can an attorney work too hard and too long on a case? According to a lawsuit on the issue, the answer depends on who is footing the bill, apparently. The New York Times published an article earlier this year about a Galveston, Texas attorney who got the short end of the stick when it came to being paid for the time he put into his cases. According to the article, the court-appointed lawyer, Drew Willey, was told by a judge that he was the only defense lawyer who requested paid investigators and also spent too many hours on each case. The judge removed the attorney from some of his cases and went so far as to slash the lawyers’ fees in half, although another judge approved the full amount on appeal.

Unjust Legal System?

It is estimated that four out of every five criminal defendants in America use court-appointed lawyers or public defenders. That being said, the nation’s criminal justice system has been criticized as inadequate, leading to false guilty pleas and over-incarceration. It is not uncommon for lawyers who represent poor clients to have to juggle hundreds of cases at once. They also accept pay at a much lower amount than fair market rates. Sometimes, they take on cases where they have little-to-no experience in the area.

A study of more than 3,000 Philadelphia murder cases conducted by the RAND Corporation in 2011 found that clients had far better results when they were represented by an attorney from an independent public defender organization as opposed to one appointed by a judge. The numbers showed that:

•  The conviction rate was 19% lower;
• The chances of a life sentence was 62% lower; and
• The expected sentence length was 24% shorter.

It seems that there is incentive on both sides – the judge appointing the counsel and the court-appointed attorney – to move cases along quickly. Judges can chose to appoint counsel who file fewer pretrial motions, present fewer witnesses, raise fewer objections in court, and ask fewer questions during voire dire. The lawyers, on the other hand, may fear that they displease the judge or will be penalized if they push their cases too hard.

Long-Standing Problem

The New York Times article further mentioned that the experience Galveston-based Willey was not unique. In fact, the not-for-profit legal organization that is representing Willey, Washington, D.C. based Civil Rights Corp., noted that this lawsuit would be the first in a series. According to Civil Rights Corp. the lawsuit was filed, in part, to reveal this unfotunate phenomenon that exists throughout our legal system.

Ever wanted to further advance the visual presentation of a deposition? Picture in Picture offers the opportunity to add more visual evidence in a deposition, while maintaining professional standards. Having the ability to use the services of Picture in Picture is not only rare, but extremely beneficial for a deposition.

How is it beneficial?

• First and foremost, Picture in Picture demonstrates the capability to show a smaller window of camera time on a regular screen that is typically setup for regular videography services.
• Like standard videography services, Picture in Picture can be done live on the spot.
• It allows the possibility to project an exhibit via an overhead projector while recording the deposition of a witness.
• Lastly, it allows the possibility to show a video while showing the reactions of a witness on the smaller window.

With that in mind, Picture in Picture is a beneficial and productive service to use for a deposition. It provides more visual stimulation for a deposition, which can be useful for the jury.

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To have a successful deposition, it is always crucial to understand all the: who’s, what’s, and when’s.

Before the Deposition

It is important to determine what is needed for the deposition:

• Will you need a videographer?
• Will you need an interpreter?
• Is video conference a necessity for the case?
  • If yes, do you need portable video conference in order to reach multiple parties at multiple locations at once?

Additionally, it is key to understand what Court Reporter is best for you.

• For instance, will the deposition benefit from a Real-Time Reporter?

By asking these questions and determining what is needed, it will lead to one step closer in having a successful deposition.

During the Deposition

During a deposition, it is vital for the Court Reporter to play their part properly and accordingly.

• A Court Reporter should arrive at least 30 minutes early. It will help ease the minds of the attorneys about a no-show or a cancellation.
• It is important to make sure all equipment for the deposition is working correctly.

Attorneys and Court Reporters can help each other to meet the goals of obtaining a positive deposition experience.

• During breaks, attorneys can inform court reporters of correct spellings or court reporters can double check with attorneys for correct spellings of names and locations.

After the Deposition

Once a deposition has been visited and the record has been taken down, it is crucial to finishing up the loose ends that will result in a final draft of a transcript. With that being the final item to cross off, it is important to understand certain issues:

• It is good to communicate and inform all those involved what format is desired for the final transcript.
• It is also important to know the level of urgency that is needed for completing the transcript.

It is always crucial to have a short turnaround time of 10 days or sooner. If an attorney is requiring the transcripts to be sooner than later, it is good to have an expediting option.

• By everyone being informed about the deadline for the final transcripts, it creates a mutual understanding of what is to be expected in the upcoming days.

Overall, by knowing what is needed in a deposition and by stating what is wanted, it provides a clear understanding what the goals are for this particular deposition, thus ultimately leading to a satisfying deposition experience.

Schedule your next deposition with us today.