Court reporters create verbatim transcripts of legal proceedings. They use a special keyboard communicating with shorthand-to-text software to quickly write down what is said in a courtroom. A skilled court reporter is able to hold a “typing” speed often in excess of 200 words per minute for hours. To become certified, one must pass a test, requiring one to transcribe audio at a rate of 225 words per minute at >95% accuracy for five minutes.
Proceedings requiring a certified court reporter
The following proceedings shall be recorded by a certified court reporter and not solely by electronic means:
Proceedings where a Court Reporter will be provided if a Court Reporter is available
Pursuant to Rule 30(b)(2)(d), the Court must provide a court reporter for a hearing or a trial that is held in a Sexually Violent Person case at no fee, only if both the following conditions are met:
Pursuant to court policy a Court Reporter will be provided to criminal trials (first day of trial is voir dire) and subsequent hearings (Capital and Murder I proceedings require a Court Reporter) if a court reporter is available on the day of trial or hearing (No request from parties or the court is needed).
Pursuant to Local Rule 2.22 a party to a Family case (FC), Civil case (CV) or Probate (PB) must request a court reporter, in writing, ten (10) prior to the proceeding and pay the required fee two (2) days prior to the proceeding. If the fee is not paid a court reporter will not be provided. If on the day of the trial or hearing a court employed reporter is not available, the requesting party may utilize a private reporter as long as the requesting party provides written notice of their intent to use a private reporter to the court and parties to the case.
“A certified reporter is a person who is certified by the board and who records and transcribes a verbatim record in any sworn proceeding by means of written symbols or abbreviations in shorthand, machine writing or voice writing as provided in A.R.S. §32-4002(3).” Arizona Code of Judicial Administration, Part 7: Administrative Office of the Courts, Chapter 2: Certification and Licensing Programs, Section 7-2006: Certified Reporter.
The Court Reporter Standard Certification Program provides statewide certification for persons in Arizona who are qualified to be certified.
Written accounts of spoken words are sometimes necessary for correspondence, records, or legal proof, and court reporters provide those accounts. Court reporters play a critical role not only in judicial proceedings, but also at every meeting where the spoken word must be preserved as a written transcript.
