Judge Notes - Court Reporters

Imagine you’re in a courtroom trying to take down every word – accurately. Voices from across the room, people with their backs turned to you, catching head nods, soft-spoken witnesses, multiple voices speaking at the same time, fast talkers…you get the idea.
That is the job of the court reporter. Often an overlooked person in the courtroom, they have perhaps the most critical job. You see, without an accurate record of a court proceeding, there can be no appeal. Without someone sitting there who is trained to make an accurate record, attorneys and judges would be wasting a lot of time.
Now, is that to say court reporters are necessary for an accurate record to be made? No. In Missouri, judges may have their clerks use an electronic recording system that is maintained by the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA). The recording is made, and that record is then sent to a court reporter to be transcribed if the transcript is needed for an appeal or other after-trial proceedings.
While this system may seem like a “no-brainer” substitute for a live human being – it is not. This is interesting to note, considering all the discussion about artificial intelligence (AI) and the role it could play in replacing human jobs. Judges do utilize the recording system for many “bench trials,” or trials in front of a judge and not a jury. However, the clerk must be very diligent in ensuring the system is working properly throughout the entire proceeding. Even then, there have been cases where the recording was sent to a court reporter to be transcribed, and the recording was not complete or had somehow captured audio that was not part of the proceeding. Court reporters are almost always present at jury trials, but that decision is ultimately the judge’s to make.
Like many other occupations – along with attorneys and paralegals – there is a need for court reporters in our area and throughout the state. It would be a great position for anyone who is interested in the legal field but doesn’t want to attend four to seven years of college. They can be employed by the courts or can do their own freelance work. For example, each circuit judge in the state has their own court reporter. That salary begins around $70,000.00 and includes state benefits.
You might be surprised by how desperately needed court reporters are – especially in rural areas. If you or someone you know if interested in this career, I would strongly suggest further researching the requirements and opportunities.