You have probably heard talk of court reporting in various places. Generally, court reporting involves the use of stenotype machine to transcribe in shorthand the speech and actions of a legal trial or deposition. For many years this was the most efficient way to preserve the legal history of various court systems, and to provide a quick and easy reference for all those interested in past court proceedings. However, with the advent of modern technology has come the concept of realtime court reporting.
| Realtime court reporting is very similar to the stenotype operation of days of old, and in fact a stenograph is still commonly used. But, instead of the shorthand keyed in by the court reporter being left to translate in normal English speech later on, software is paired with the stenograph such that the shorthand is instantly transferred, in exact conversational language, onto large television screens placed throughout the courtroom. This allows transcripts to be preserved in a digitized format for easy storage, and transcripts in this way can be produced within a very short time after court is adjourned, sometimes immediately.
| An important element of court reporting shorthand is its phonetic nature. For example, the word “cat” is instead written just as it sounds, “k-a-t”. This of course was sufficient when these words were not instantly transmitted to computer screens, but realtime court reporting has necessitated alterations in court reporting theory. Realtime court reporting uses personal software usually purchased by the court reporter to incorporate dictionaries with various legal and technical terms into easy translation. Homophones also need to be accounted for through various means. The upkeep and maintenance of this dictionary of terms is a continuous job, and one that modern court reporters should be made aware of before taking on realtime court reporting duties. Other benefits of this sort of court reporting are myriad. Due to the digitization of transcripts, this information can be transferred to various file storage systems, such as CD-ROMs, and these can also be emailed to concerned individuals as things progress. Lawyers and others can review the part of the transcript that has already been written at any point in the trial. They can scroll through any section, and are often able to narrow their search based on keywords and phrases. This feature can also be used in order to produce printouts while the court is in recess, which gives parties the advantage of possessing all pertinent information directly at their fingertips. In this way, legal pads are rendered virtually obsolete, as lawyers can directly reference transcripts on the printouts. The hard of hearing and deaf are also given the obvious option of referring to the transcription that appears on the television screen, rather than having to rely on a sign language interpreter. This concurrently reduces the need to employ anyone fluent in sign language, which can be a great help the budget of the court system. Witnesses who have accents also become easier to understand, as their speech is translated by the court reporter into plain English nearly as soon as the words are uttered. The communication breakdown is subsequently minimized, allowing the facts of the trial to stand on their own.
Of particular interest to current court reporters and those who plan on becoming court reporters is the increase in pay for certified realtime court reporters. Simply being certified can raise one’s pay by up to 10%, and in some cases more. Both judges and lawyers prefer this form of court reporting to the older and essentially outdated form, and therefore the demand is much higher for employees who understand and utilize it.
The most significant benefit of court reporting is no doubt its enhancement of justice. With accurate and exact information presented to everyone who happens to have any part in the proceedings, judges and jurors are able to weigh everything completely, leaving the bias of ignorance far from the world of civil equality. Judges have been known to more accurately focus on the trial at hand when supplied with realtime court reporting transcripts, and the ease of review of previous rulings in the trial, on objections for example, is completely invaluable to all those who have been lucky enough to use it.
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