| If you've ever been to a courtroom during a trial, | | | | using a voice silencer called a stenomask in |
| or watch a TV show or movie depicting a | | | | conjunction with a digital recorder and voice |
| courtroom proceeding, then you've probably | | | | recognition software. The stenomask is literally a |
| noticed a court reporter. Court reporters are the | | | | mask that the reporter puts up to their mouth |
| people who you see sitting off to the side of | | | | and speaks into. The mask silences their voice so |
| courtroom, typing away at a rapid pace. If you've | | | | that others can't hear it (and thus it doesn't |
| ever wondered what exactly the court reporter's | | | | disturb the proceedings) but it simultaneously |
| job is, then read on. | | | | records everything that the reporter says. The |
| In short, the court reporter's job is to record | | | | reporter simply repeats what the judges, |
| every word that is spoken in court proceedings. | | | | attorneys, witnesses, and other people involved in |
| This can include actual trials and hearings as well | | | | the proceeding say. They must even say what |
| as depositions and other out of court proceedings. | | | | gestures people are making. Everything is |
| As you might imagine, it requires a tremendous | | | | recorded and then processed into a proper |
| amount of focus, speed and accuracy to be a | | | | transcript at the end of the hearing. |
| court reporter. It also requires an impressive level | | | | Court reporters may play other roles during a |
| of mastery of the English language. With people in | | | | courtroom proceeding, as well. For example, they |
| trials sometimes talking very rapidly or talking | | | | might do research regarding items entered into |
| over each other, the job can get very hectic. | | | | the court record or aid in other ways. In addition |
| There are two methods of court reporting that | | | | to courtroom work, some court reporters take |
| are commonly used. The first method, and the | | | | on other tasks as well. The same types of |
| most familiar, involves using a sort of typewriter | | | | technology are used for closed captioning of live |
| called a stenotype machine. Although it may look | | | | television, for example. A court reporter may also |
| like a court reporter is typing on a normal | | | | help provide transcriptions for church services, |
| keyboard, stenotype machines are actually very | | | | public events, seminars, and other events. |
| different. Instead of using individual letters, they | | | | The advent of court reporting has proven |
| combine letters into "chords" that are used in a | | | | extremely useful to the judiciary system. With a |
| special type of shorthand. It requires a great deal | | | | skilled court reporter at a court hearing, no word |
| of training to learn stenotype, but once it is | | | | or gesture need ever be missed. The transcripts |
| learned it's possible to type at speeds upwards of | | | | recorded by court recorders have proven |
| 250 words per minute. Currently, the world record | | | | invaluable to judges and attorneys alike, allowing |
| for fastest typing stands at a staggering 350 | | | | them essentially relive the trial as it happened to |
| words per minute. | | | | better their understanding of it. |
| The second method of court reporting involves | | | | |