In 2018, U.S. district courts experienced more than 358,000 combined filings for civil and criminal defendants.
While that number is less than the previous year, it signifies the heavy caseload of the judicial system across the country.
And within that busy judicial system, court reporting is in high demand.
The role of the court reporter is incredibly important in safeguarding the legal process.
What was once a government position has expanded as demand has increased.
Not sure why this job is so important? Keep reading to learn more about court reporters.
What Is a Court Reporter?
Also known as guardians of the record, these highly trained professionals are responsible for keeping a complete, accurate, and secure legal record.
They do this by capturing every word spoken in court or in a deposition.
Beyond judicial proceedings, they also record the spoken words in any meeting that requires a written transcript.
They might also assist judges and trial attorneys in a number of ways.
They may search for information in official records that they themselves organize.
They might also make recommendations regarding administration, procedures, and other organizational processes of the court.
Official Versus Independent Court Reporting
In the U.S., there are two types of court reporters. These are official court reporters and independent court reporters.
Official court reporters are those that work for judges and the courts. This used to be the only type of court reporter.
They were official government employees who were employed by the court system where they worked.
Over time, the demand for court reporting has increased. To meet that demand, independent court reporters became the second category of court reporters.
This type of courtroom reporter is not employed by the court but they are an officer of the court.
Independent court reporters may work in one of two ways. They can work as a sole practitioner or as part of a larger court reporting company.
The former work for their own clients, while the latter work for one or more court reporting firms as an employee or as a contractor.
Why Are Court Reporters Important?
Court reporters are responsible for preparing verbatim transcripts of judicial proceedings or any legal proceeding where a record of the spoken word is required.
This official record is critical in safeguarding the legal process.
During a trial or deposition, they may be asked to read back what has been said. Their records are used when litigants file for and proceed with an appeal.
An attorney might also use transcripts from deposition to prepare for the discovery phase of a trial.
More Thoughts On Things
Court reporting is an essential job. These professionals prepare and organize verbatim transcripts of legal proceedings.
And these transcripts are essential during court cases, for appeals, for records, and for legal proof.
The legal world is a complex one – but one we all have to navigate at some time or another.
Having this kind of insight is helpful, so we’ve prepared more thoughts on things you didn’t know you needed. Check out our blog for more.