What should you do if an event interferes with your ability to produce a verbatim transcript?

If an event interferes with your ability to produce a verbatim transcript, the most appropriate action is to interrupt the judge. This approach is necessary because maintaining an accurate and complete transcript is the primary responsibility of the reporter. If distractions or interruptions occur that hinder your ability to capture the proceedings, raising the issue immediately ensures that the court is made aware of the situation and can take the necessary steps to mitigate it. By doing so, you are prioritizing the integrity of the record and allowing for necessary accommodations to be made, such as pausing the proceedings or addressing the distraction.

In contrast, asking for a break may not effectively address the immediate problem, especially if the distraction continues after the break. Ignoring the distraction could compromise the accuracy of the transcript, which is not acceptable. Recording the event instead of addressing the issue could lead to incomplete or inaccurate documentation, as it would not solve the underlying problem of the distraction affecting your transcription ability.