Huseby Inc. Court Reporting Blog | Nationwide Court Reporters

Video synching is the process of matching up a videotaped deposition with the electronic transcript so that the two are synchronized in vision and sound. As the witness speaks, the transcribed words come up on the television or computer screen. While the concept has been around for quite some time, technology has become so proficient that video synching is now one of the most popular trends in litigation support services. Video synched depositions can be used by counsel in many ways during trial to enhance the effects of information and testimony.

Digital videos can be coordinated with the written record of the transcript so that by clicking on the electronic portion of the transcript on the computer screen, the video portion plays. This is used to capture a witness’ statements from a legal videotaped deposition and give the jury a more intense impact from the testimony.

Impeachment
Back in the day, if a witness was contradicted or impeached by an attorney in court, the lawyer would stand up front with a certified transcript and read from a piece of paper. “Didn’t you say on page 57, line 5,” he would ask, “that it was blue?” The witness would then hem and haw and say, “Well, I guess so, but that’s not what I meant.”

With video synching, the lawyer now asks the same question and punches a button. Everyone in the courtroom watches and listens as the witness clearly says on video, for example, “It was blue. I saw it.” This can ruin a witness’ credibility with the jury and send the court case in another direction, because most jurors are wary of witnesses that are tripped up by questionable testimony.

Opening and Closing Statements
Attorneys may choose to make opening and closing statements in a court trial that summarizes the most salient points of their case. Rather than the lawyers talking the whole time, they let other people do the talking for them. Showing snippets of deposition testimony by experts and lay witnesses give the jury panel a chance to see and hear the major players in a trial before they meet them. Those with powerful statements will grab attention long before they take the witness stand. A tearful clip of a distraught witness will have a tremendous impact on jurors that could never quite be duplicated in the sterile environment of a courtroom.

Trial Preparation
Before digital technology, video depositions were watched at real-time speed to prepare for trial. Tapes were fast-forwarded with expert guesswork at how long they should run before trying to find a particular spot in the deposition. Once transcripts became available in electronic format, it was easier to find your place on the video by typing the words from the tape into the computer. Looking on the screen, you could see how far behind or ahead you were on the tape from where you wanted to be. With video synching, the guesswork is gone. Find the place in the transcript you want to see, then click on it. Boom. There it is. Replay it over and over at the flick of a wrist. Trial preparation time is cut drastically shorter, allowing more time for strategy and research.

Huseby’s availability of video synching gives our clients state-of-the-art technology. It helps attorneys find the all-important advantage in trial presentation and preparation.