Which of the following will NOT be present during a deposition?

During a deposition, a judge is not present. A deposition is a legal process wherein a witness provides sworn testimony outside of the courtroom, usually as part of the discovery phase in civil litigation. It involves a court reporter who transcribes the proceedings, the attorneys who are questioning the witness, and the witness who is providing the testimony.

The presence of a court reporter ensures that a verbatim record of the deposition is kept, which can later be referenced during the trial or for legal purposes. Attorneys play a critical role in conducting the deposition, as they prepare questions and seek relevant information from the witness. The witness is the individual providing their testimony, so they are an essential part of this process.

The absence of a judge during a deposition is significant because a judge's role is primarily in the courtroom during trials or hearings, where they may rule on objections and oversee proceedings. In depositions, the typical legal argument and oversight provided by a judge are not involved, allowing for a different kind of interaction focused on gathering facts before a case goes to trial.