subject: All Ears As A Court Reporter [print this page] A character often seen in courtroom dramas as well as real-life settings, the court reporter makes his or her contribution by being a human recorder of all the goings-on. Although the ideal situation is for judges, jurors and attorneys to possess perfect recall of cross examinations, objections and statements to date, more often than not, short term memory plights most of mankind. As such, one whose responsibility is to fully record all that proceeds from the mouth of man is thus a crucial undertaking for any legal proceeding.
Although the conventional mode of capture requires some nifty finger work on the infamous stenotype machine, modernity as a courtesy of technology opens up a new horizon of methods. In a way, this enables more efficient transmission of information to the authorized audience as well as the ability to check and confirm accuracy of recordings. Real-time courtroom reporting entails the immediate recording of information onto paper or into a computer. Despite technology allowing digital presentation, legal requirements may still show a preference for written or typed transcripts for submission and approval by the court offices.
Court reporters also have the option to speak into hidden microphones as a way to record the proceedings. Akin to interpreters who perform on-the-spot translation of speeches and forums at international settings, these professionals record their voices as a form of self dictation. In addition to spoken statements and conversation, there may be a need to note gestures and reactions as and when applicable. Some time is required to complete the work as reporters review the recordings to compose and produce accurate transcripts.
These individuals perform deft juggling as they handle a number of cases at any one time. Coupled with a keen sense of hearing, court reporters tackle their jobs on a neutral ground. Assumptions and certain slants may cause admission or omission of said words, resulting in a less than accurate courtroom reporting.
