The Importance of the Court Reporter Role

TV shows and movies do not accurately depict courtWith the couple different ways to keep a record, there
reporters do much more than type court proceedingare also different areas in which court reporters are
transcript. Not just relegated to court, they also helputilized. They can be used for hearings where the
make accurate transcripts of conversations, speeches,public is invited. This makes it easier to document the
legal proceedings, and other times when it is importantopinion of those people who are affected by specific
to record verbal exchanges on paper. Often these aredecisions and/or legislation.
used for a record and sometimes as legal proof. TheyCourt reporters are sometimes used to keep records
are an extremely important piece in legal proceedings.of verbal statements at conventions. This is helpful to
They ensure complete and accurate documentation.the people who didn't attend, ultimately giving them a
Sometimes they assist the judges and the attorneyswritten account of what happened. The conventions
by not only organizing the records, also searchingcan be for many reasons including seminars, business
through them for the information they need. Wellmeetings, or award ceremonies.
versed in courtroom procedure and in administration,Insurance companies sometimes want investigation
they sometimes even have suggestions for the judgedone into a person who filed a claim. An investigator is
and the attorneys. It has been increasingly commonsent to question them. Stenographers are used to
that they help provide services, like translation orgenerate an accurate transcript of all of the questions
closed captioning, for those who are hearing impairedand all of the answers given. This simple record can
so that they can know what is going on in thelead to a claim being either approved or denied.
courtroom. The court reporter role has expanded fromSometimes corporations have professionally done
the person making written accounts of courttranscripts of all meetings. These corporations can
proceedings, to doing so many other things.include banks, or even condo associations. Companies
Court reporting isn't just cut and dry. There are a fewthat have court reporting services are often utilized by
different ways it is done. The most often seen andcorporations.
associated with court reporting is the way where theyCourt reporters have a lot of responsibilities. Not only
use stenography. All statements would be recorded bydo they stenograph and make exact transcripts that
a stenographer.are easy to read for court cases, but also they
There is another way called Communications Accessorganize these records so that it is easy to retrieve
Realtime Translation (CART) that is where theinformation which is especially important during appeals.
stenotype machines are linked to a computer. This canThey get things arranged so that the hard of hearing
be easily used by the hearing impaired by displayingor even handicapped can have a part in the judicial
the stenographers notes on a screen. Regardless ofprocess. These days, the court reporter role is so
the role of the impaired person, they would be able toexpansive and important that what is projected by
know what is going on while it was happening.media doesn't do them justice.