If you've ever been in a courtroom for whatever reason, you may have noticed a person off to the side of the jury box or witness stand typing away on a machine. This person is the court reporter, and they play a vital part in the function of the courtroom and the justice system. Here's everything you need to know about court reporters.

What Do Court Reporters Do?

Being a court reporter might seem like a pretty cushy job. After all, aren't they just writing down everything that's said in the courtroom? While creating transcripts of court proceedings is the majority of a Denver court reporters job, they're also in charge of ensuring that these records are accurate, unbiased, and preserved for later reference. Without their help, the court would be unable to guarantee that an accurate record of what went on during trials, depositions, and other proceedings was being kept.

Steno Machines

The machine you see court reporters typing away on is called a "steno machine", or a stenotype keyboard. Rather than being a typewriter with a straightforward keyboard, steno machines are special tools that allow court reporters to type in a form of shorthand. Rather than typing one letter at a time, the stenographer can press several keys at once to create words more quickly than they would be able to do on a normal keyboard. As you can imagine, this type of writing is tricky and can take several years to learn how to do properly. But it's enormously helpful as it allows court reporters to type the words as they hear them, and in some cases, the steno machine's screen will be projected on a larger screen for the court's benefit.

Text-to-Speech

Another method of court reporting is for the reporter to wear a mask that causes their voice to become muffled, allowing them to relay what they're hearing to text-to-speech software on their computer. Without causing a disturbance, the reporter can easily transcribe the proceedings and then create a written transcript of their documentation afterward. This method allows for a quicker training period than stenography.

Becoming a Court Reporter

Because this job holds so much responsibility and requires a high level of specific skills, many states have rigorous standards for their court reporters. You would have to obtain a license, which means going through an educational program where you'd learn all the ins and outs of reporting, as well as how to use the steno machine.

Once you're able to meet the licensing requirements (usually a certain level of words per minute), you'll receive your certification and go on to be hired as either an independent court reporter or be employed by a specific court. It can be an exciting job with a good salary and excellent benefits and ensures a certain level of job security as court reporters are always in high demand.

Career Advancement

You might think that becoming a court reporter is a one-and-done situation, but it's actually a career that offers a decent level of mobility. By acquiring additional certifications after the initial licensing process, reporters can become qualified to do more specific types of court reporting, such as broadcast captioning. If you wanted to take your career in a different direction, you could also become a consultant or acquire the right certification to teach court reporting yourself.

There are tons of different types of court reporting out there, so there are many opportunities to continue improving and building on your skills and expanding your career horizons. It's an interesting career choice that many finds offers opportunities for excitement and a sense of fulfillment as a vital part of the justice system.