IN THE PROFESSION but to the public , as it is the official record of what transpired . As such , court reporters must ensure that the record is accurate .
To accomplish this goal , we need everyone ’ s cooperation ; we ask attorneys to speak slower and clearer , to not interrupt one another , or to speak louder .
When we do not get everyone ’ s cooperation , it means grueling hours scoping and editing transcripts .
Fortunately , court reporters are often perfectionists . We want the record to read with clarity and reflect what occurred and what was said . We are always multitasking and striving to ensure that we capture the true essence of the courtroom proceedings , so it is especially important to us that we have great working relationships with court staff , judges , attorneys , and all the parties involved .
How can you assist court reporters ?
First , provide the court reporter with as much information as possible before the proceeding even begins , such as the style of the case , including the names of the attorneys and who they represent . Keep in mind that most of the participants have “ lived ” with the case for years , but for court reporters , it is most often our first time hearing the case and the issues .
Second , attorneys should bear the responsibility of making their appearances known once the case is called into the record . When the judge signals to the attorneys that they are free to make their record , it is important that a conscious effort is made to create a record that is reflective of what they want to say . By speaking with purpose , judges and attorneys can ensure that the record is accurate . This means speaking clearly , enunciating each word , speaking steadily and in an unchanging pace . Remember we must take down every word , including uh-huh , hmm , and um , so do not whisper , speak softly , or interrupt others .
Third , sometimes what dictates the length of time a court reporter takes to complete a transcript is how well the attorneys spoke and the overall clarity of the proceedings . As I mentioned previously , we take every word down verbatim , including digressions and interruptions , which we reflect in the transcript using dashes .
COVID-19 has undoubtedly influenced the way criminal and civil proceedings are managed today . Court reporters , like other professions , have had to quickly adapt to working in a virtual space . While initially challenging , reporting criminal and civil matters on a Zoom platform has been quite rewarding and has become a great asset to the field of court reporting . The virtual setting is much more relaxed and controlled . Court reporters find that appearing virtually for pleas , hearings and voir dire affords us the opportunity to hear everyone , because only one person can be heard at a time . We also find that the attorneys are speaking slower and clearer for the record .
On the flipside , there are some very real challenges that court reporters face when having to do a take down in-person , when everyone is wearing a mask , or is simultaneously behind a plastic barrier . Our speed , and the way we keep up with the spoken word at 225 words per minute , is contingent upon how well we hear sounds and the clarity of words . When someone is wearing a mask , we are also unable to read lips , as we often do , or hear the enunciation of words .
Once we have completed the takedown , our work really begins . Most of the time the parties are anxious to get the transcript quickly to comply with court deadlines or appeals . Often a party requests a “ daily ” transcript from each day of the trial which means once we get home , we are back at work . We go through the “ take down ” and create the record , ensuring that words are spelled correctly , punctuation is correct , and dialog is attributed to the right person . This can take an enormous amount of time especially with a long civil trial involving complex terms and expert testimony . Do not forget , your transcript is not the only one we are working on . A court reporter in a busy court might have as many as 14 transcript requests at any given time .
Often a court reporter is working on one transcript and that work is interrupted to begin an entirely different transcript , with perhaps a shorter deadline . We are master jugglers !
The most challenging aspects of a court reporter ’ s job is fatigue due to long court sessions without proper breaks and recording individuals who do not speak slowly and clearly .
Court reporting is a stressful and demanding profession that involves skills that are difficult to master . When I was in school for court reporting , there was a 95 % dropout rate . Despite these demands , those of us who do succeed , find it rewarding and feel we are making a very important contribution to the judicial branch of government , and to the public . It is truly a job I love and enjoy , but please do not forget why I am there !
MONICA WALKER-BAILEY State Court of Fulton County monica . bailey @ fultoncountyga . gov
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T he life of a Judicial Assistant is busy and exciting . I am the gatekeeper , scheduler , traffic cop , office manager , and mom of the chambers . My position requires me to provide more than basic secretarial services . In addition to administrative work , I handle the judge ’ s correspondence , organize calendars , memos , letters , RSVP for events and seminars , schedule virtual hearings , court dates , and so on . On top of all that , I am the liasion between the judge and the solicitor ’ s office , clerk ’ s office , sheriff ’ s office , circuit defenders , criminal defense attorneys , as well as civil attorneys . I remind attorneys , for example , to waive arraignment when it makes sense , and so we can keep our crowds down in the courtroom . Similarily , at calendar calls , I urge attorneys to sign in early to avoid
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