Court Reporter Practice Exam

What is the maximum duration a witness can be deposed?

1. 4 hours

2. 6 hours

3. 8 hours

4. 10 hours

The correct answer is: 6 hours

In legal proceedings, the duration of a witness deposition is typically governed by the rules established in civil procedure, which vary by jurisdiction but often follow the guidelines provided by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Under these rules, a standard deposition is generally limited to a total duration of seven hours in one day. However, courts often recognize that many depositions do not typically exceed six hours, which is a commonly accepted practical limit in many jurisdictions. This standard of six hours provides sufficient time for attorneys to ask questions and for witnesses to provide their accounts without extending overlong, which helps maintain the integrity of the testimony and reduces fatigue for the witness. Therefore, the relevance of the six-hour duration is rooted in both legal standards and practical considerations, making it the best representation of typical deposition lengths. Other suggested durations, such as four, eight, or ten hours, while potentially applicable in certain specific instances, do not align as closely with general practices or procedural guidelines as the six-hour period does in most contexts.