Depositions are a very typical element of any circuit court trials including criminal and family law cases. They are essentially a part of the discovery process, legally compelling each party to disclose vital documentation and/or information that is pertinent to the case. And because depositions are important, the recorded transcripts of those depositions share equal relevance.
Accurate transcripts from depositions can be very critical for both parties’ attorneys to prepare for different phases of a trial as well as for other technical matters including appellate reviews or impeachment.
Understanding a Deposition Transcript in a Nutshell
The deposition transcript is basically a recorded legal document that is typed by a court report. The professional records each and everything that a witness or any other individual tied to the cases says or does during the trial. The transcript functions as vital evidence after the proceedings finish.
How Depositions Transcripts are Utilized in Court
Both parties can utilize the deposition transcripts as a vital source of evidence. However, they will need to first inform the court of this decision and whether they would be using the full transcript as evidence or parts of it.
As witnesses testify, they are sworn under oath to tell the truth. If they recant or change their testimony, they would be committing perjury or lying under oath. Deposition transcripts can help substantiate their inaccuracies or false testimonies.
An example can be that of using a transcript to impeach a trial witness. The deposition transcripts could be used to paint the witness as unreliable or untrustworthy.