The value of court reporting

Court reporters are cost-effective.

Court reporters in many jurisdictions bear most, if not all, of the expenses for their equipment, making sophisticated voice-to-text technology available to the court system at no additional expense to the courts.

Digital audio systems require yearly maintenance costs, and software and hardware upgrades do occur, which are additional costs to the court system’s budget that negate and potentially exceed any claimed cost savings.

Court reporters are highly-skilled and educated professionals.

• Court reporters provide the most reliable and most accurate transcript.
• They undergo several years of academic and skills training to achieve different levels of certification. This allows them to post speeds upwards of 280 words per minute, enabling them to capture every word of the proceedings.
• They are required to pursue ongoing continuing education throughout their careers to maintain their certification(s), ensuring that they are up-to-date on the latest technology and processes in the legal industry.
• Court reporters are able to certify and testify, if necessary, to the accuracy and integrity of the record.

Court reporters are high-tech.

• Court reporters are at the forefront of technology and constantly upgrade their software and hardware to ensure that they remain the most reliable and most accurate method of capturing the record.
• They can synchronize their transcript with a digital audio or digital video recording to provide a searchable multimedia record.

Why can't electronic reporting replace court reporters?

Court reporters have the capability to provide realtime.

• Realtime is a process that instantly captures the spoken word so that judges, law clerks, court clerks, parties to a proceeding, jurors, and members of the media, as well as those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, have immediate access to a transcript.
• Realtime feeds can be accessed remotely and by multiple devices, saving time and money. Wireless technology delivers realtime feeds simply and securely.

Court reporters help the court provide an invaluable public service.

• Through stenographic realtime, the court and legal system are made accessible to people with hearing loss.
• The reliability and accuracy of a court reporter cannot be replaced by voice recognition in the foreseeable future.
• Court reporters have the skill and training to provide the public accurate and reliable court records, ensuring a full and fair appellate review to all parties.

Court reporters can perform functions that other technologies cannot.

• Court reporters can go beyond the transcript. With transcripts of court proceedings available on demand, a reporter can provide clarification on any moment of the court record, saving time and money.
• They are able to discriminate between testimony and background noise and can clarify otherwise inaudible or heavily accented speech.
• Court reporters do not inadvertently record off-the-record attorney-client exchanges.

Court reporters provide fast turnaround of transcripts.

• Court reporters are able to produce both electronic and paper transcripts, offering virtually instantaneous resources and added flexibility to accommodate the needs of the court.
• They are able to provide certified transcripts at the close of business each day to those involved in complicated and/or high-stakes trials.

How do I find more resources about court reporters in my area?

• For more information on how court reporters work with your state court system, please contact your local court reporters association. Visit our website for a directory of other state and affiliated associations. You may also contact NCRA via e-mail or call us at 1-800-272-6272.
• To find a reporter visit NCRA's online Sourcebook.