Court reporters, also known as certified shorthand reporters (CSRs), are highly trained, licensed professionals who transcribe spoken words using a stenotype machine in a wide variety of settings – not just in court. They fill a critical role in the justice system by providing verbatim transcripts of judicial proceedings and ensuring that nothing compromises their accuracy. Court reporters are present in court hearings, trials, and other litigation-related sessions such as depositions. They use the same process for webcasts, instantly transmitting captions to the computer screens of all parties via the Internet. The stenotype machine enables court reporters to write words using a letter or a combination of letters to represent a sound, a word, or a phrase. This allows them to write text much faster than on a standard computer keyboard.
The duties of court reporters include attending depositions, hearings, proceedings, and other events that require transcription. They record court proceedings by manual shorthand, machine shorthand, or stenomask methods. Court reporters must have proficient knowledge of principles, practices, methods, and techniques of court shorthand reporting, clerical and legal recordkeeping practices and procedures, legal, medical and related technical terminology, advanced spelling, punctuation, vocabulary and grammar skills, and the English language. They must be able to operate a stenographic machine at 200 wpm, read back verbatim records, work independently, perform legal clerical work with a high degree of accuracy and speed, follow oral and written directions, remain seated for long periods of time, concentrate for long periods of time, communicate effectively in writing and orally, and establish and maintain working relationships with judges, attorneys, and other court personnel.
