Do You Really Need To Hire A Certified Court Reporter?
Are you still thinking about whether or not hiring a court reporter for your civil or legal case is a good decision? Well, I bet knowing and understanding the important role the court reporters play in every court proceeding and deposition will help you solidify your decision. Here are a few reasons why court reporters are needed inside the courtroom.
You may have already heard about court reporters. They are those people that you see inside the courtroom sitting silently in one corner or in front while typing in a not so familiar typewriter sort of thing. Yes, many people might recognize who among those people in a typical court hearing setting are the court reporters but only a few truly understand the important role they play in the legal world. But what are the reasons why court reporters are present in the court? Is their presence really necessary in every legal proceeding? Let us take a look at why they are needed inside the courtroom.
Court reporters are part of the legal proceedings
They may seem like just a nobody inside the courtroom but certified court reporters share the same importance as the witnesses, judge, and attorneys in every civil and legal proceeding, may it be on the federal, national, or local level. As a matter of fact, proceeding into the court without the presence of a licensed court reporter is most of the time considered as illegal.
Court reporters produce high-quality transcript
Court reporting is a profession. Before court reporters are allowed to practice their profession, they need to undergo and pass the special comprehensive training in various legal aspects including medical terminology, legal terminology, law, proper usage of the stenotype machine, and courtroom proceedings, among others.
A certified court reporter has to be proficient at using the stenotype or shorthand machine. He or she must be able to type at least 225 words per minute in order for him or her to accurately record the spoken testimony of the witnesses and the statements of the judge and the attorneys.
The court reporter will then transcribe this record and produce an excellent quality and highly reliable written transcript which is accessible to all parties including the court as well as the attorney of the defendant, and the accused. The written transcript will also be filed by the court clerk as the official record of the legal case.
Court reporters are more efficient than technology
Although sometimes the judge is given the chance to choose between technology and court reporter, many still choose to hire a certified court reporter. Unlike technological devices like audio and video recorders, court reporters are very efficient.
The presence of court reporters create a sense of consciousness
Court reporter services do not merely end at recording and producing an official legal transcript. The mere presence of a court reporting inside the courtroom during legal proceedings and depositions is enough to create a sense of consciousness among the involved parties. Knowing that every word they speak will be recorded and can be used as a legal evidence or can be used against them is enough for everyone to be conscious of what they say inside the courtroom.
Transcripts produced by court reporters are very important
The court reporters do not produce a written transcript for nothing. The transcript is more important than just a court record that can be rotten over time. It can help you when reviewing the case and when filing an appeal.
In fact, the judge will require you to request an accurate written transcript of the previous court proceedings from the court reporting agency and submit it to the court together with your request for an appeal. The judges will base their decision as to whether they will grant your appeal or not on the written transcript that you submit.
