NCRA Ethics First Campaign
WCRA encourages all reporters and freelance court reporting firms to abide by and participate in the NCRA Ethics First Campaign. The documents below can be downloaded and used for distribution if you wish.Ethics First with Cartoon--Wisconsin.pdf DICE--Wisconsin.pdf Per the WCRA Bylaws, Article I, Section 3(h), WCRA has adopted the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) Code of Professional Ethics.
"Article I, Section 3(h) To adopt a Code of Ethics consistent with that of the
National Court Reporters Association (hereinafter NCRA) and
professional standards as guidelines for members."
NCRA has a formal complaint procedure that can be viewed at:
NCRA COPE Complaint Procedure Several Advisory Opinions have also been published. These opinions can be viewed at:
COPE Advisory Opinions WCRA Code of Professional Ethics
On April 24th ,
2009, the WCRA Code of Ethics was adopted by the Wisconsin Court Reporters
Association Board of Directors, based on the National Court Reporters
Association Code of Professional Ethics.
WCRA’s Code of Professional Ethics outlines what the public,
the bench and the Bar have a right to expect from a verbatim reporter.
These guidelines have been established toward which every
reporter should strive. Reporters are
urged to comply with these guidelines, which do not exhaust the moral and
ethical considerations with which the reporter should conform, but provide the
framework for the practice of reporting.
Not every situation a reporter may encounter can be foreseen, but
fundamental ethical principles are always present.
A
Wisconsin Court Reporter Shall:
Be fair and impartial toward
each participant in all aspects of reported proceedings, and always offer
to provide comparable services to all parties in a proceeding. Be alert to situations that are
conflicts of interest or that may give the appearance of a conflict of
interest. If a conflict or a potential conflict arises, the Member
shall disclose that conflict or potential conflict. Guard against not only the fact
but the appearance of impropriety. Preserve the confidentiality
and ensure the security of information, oral or written, entrusted to the
Member by any of the parties in a proceeding. Be truthful and accurate when
making public statements or when advertising the Member's qualifications or
the services provided. Refrain, as an official
reporter, from freelance reporting activities that interfere with official
duties and obligations. Determine fees independently,
except when established by statute or court order, entering into no
unlawful agreements with other reporters on the fees to any user. Refrain from giving, directly
or indirectly, any gift, incentive, reward or anything of value to
attorneys, clients, witnesses, insurance companies or any other persons or
entities associated with the litigation, or to the representatives or
agents of any of the foregoing, except for (1) items that do not exceed
$100 in the aggregate per recipient each year, or, (2) pro bono services
as defined by the NCRA Guidelines for Professional Practice or by applicable
state and local laws, rules and regulations. Maintain the integrity of the
reporting profession. Abide by the WCRA Constitution
& Bylaws.
Preamble
The mandatory Code of Professional Ethics defines the ethical
relationship the public, the bench, and the bar have a right to expect
from a Member. The Code sets out the conduct of the Member when
dealing with the user of reporting services and acquaints the user, as
well as the Member, with guidelines established for professional
behavior. The Guidelines for Professional Practice, on the other hand,
are goals which every Member should strive to attain and maintain.
Members are urged to comply with the Guidelines and must adhere to
local, state and federal rules and statutes. It should be noted that
these guidelines do not exhaust the moral and ethical considerations
with which the Member should conform, but provide the framework for the
practice of reporting. Not every situation a Member may encounter can
be foreseen, but a Member should always adhere to fundamental ethical
principles. By complying with the Code of Professional Ethics and
Guidelines for Professional Practice, Members maintain their profession
at the highest level.
Code of Professional Ethics
A Member Shall:
Be fair and impartial toward each participant in all aspects of
reported proceedings, and always offer to provide comparable services
to all parties in a proceeding. Be alert to situations that are conflicts of interest or
that may give the appearance of a conflict of interest. If a conflict
or a potential conflict arises, the Member shall disclose that conflict
or potential conflict. Guard against not only the fact but the appearance of impropriety.
Preserve the confidentiality and ensure the security of
information, oral or written, entrusted to the Member by any of the
parties in a proceeding. Be truthful and accurate when making public statements or
when advertising the Member's qualifications or the services provided. Refrain, as an official reporter, from freelance reporting activities that interfere with official duties and obligations.
Determine fees independently, except when established by
statute or court order, entering into no unlawful agreements with other
reporters on the fees to any user. Refrain from giving, directly or indirectly, any gift,
incentive, reward or anything of value to attorneys, clients,
witnesses, insurance companies or any other persons or entities
associated with the litigation, or to the representatives or agents of
any of the foregoing, except for (1) items that do not exceed $100 in
the aggregate per recipient each year, or, (2) pro bono services as
defined by the NCRA Guidelines for Professional Practice or by
applicable state and local laws, rules and regulations. Maintain the integrity of the reporting profession.
Abide by the NCRA Constitution & Bylaws.
Preamble
The mandatory Code of Professional Ethics for Certified Legal Video
Services (CLVS) defines the ethical relationship the public, the bench,
and the bar have a right to expect from a CLVS Member. The Code sets
out the conduct of the CLVS Member when dealing with the user of video
services and acquaints the user, as well as the Member, with guidelines
established for professional behavior. By complying with the CLVS Code
of Professional Ethics, CLVS Members maintain their profession at the
highest level.
A CLVS Member must also adhere to the voluntary Principles for
Professional Practice when providing legal video services as well as
all local, state and federal rules and statutes.
Code of Professional Ethics
A CLVS Member Shall:
Render services to all parties in a competent manner. A CLVS shall maintain the integrity of the legal video profession.
Perform all tasks in a professional manner, observing all laws, rules and orders of the court relating to the proceedings.
Refrain from performing any service under terms or conditions
that will compromise, in any way, his or her impartiality or the
exercise of good judgment. A CLVS shall not adversely affect the fair
and impartial portrayal of the proceeding. Refrain from doing anything that affects the impartiality of the CLVS.
Absent the consent of the parties concerned or a court order,
a CLVS shall not reveal confidential information entrusted in or
provided to such CLVS by any of the parties. Be truthful and accurate when making public statements or when advertising the CLVS' qualifications or the services provided.
Determine fees independently, except when established by
statute or court order, entering into no unlawful agreements with
others on the fees to any user. Refrain from giving, directly or indirectly, any gift, incentive,
reward or anything of value to attorneys, clients, witnesses, insurance
companies or any other person or entities associated with the
litigation, or to the representatives or agents of any of the
foregoing, except for (1) items that do not exceed $100 in the
aggregate per recipient each year, or, (2) pro bono services as defined
by the NCRA Guidelines for Professional Practice or by applicable state
and local laws, rules and regulations.