When it comes to court reporting, what do you know? If you work in this field, you likely know a lot about it. Maybe you’ve witnessed some small evolutions in the field if you’ve worked in it a decade or longer– small updates, a bit of technology here and there.
If you’re currently working as one of many real time court reporters, you have probably seen at least a few small updates in the courtroom. While far from being a takeover, you may have seen computers or technology popping up or being utilized in courtrooms across the states. Courts are always going to try and cut costs if they can, and one potential way to do that is technology. However, the lack of dependence on technology is telling.
We’re going over everything court reporting today. So if you want to find out more, scroll down and see what we’re talking about!
Just like in the past, court reporters are a very important part of the court system. While you may be worried about tech affecting opportunities for reporters in the field, if you work in this career path or are considering it, you may be happy to know that your job isn’t going to be replaced by a computer anytime soon.
Technology may not be worth the move; at least, not yet. The quality of audio and video recording along with the accuracy of the machines that do it can be decent, but it’s not foolproof. It’s a long way from matching the accuracy of a real-life stenographer or court reporter. They’re trained to do their job and make little to no mistakes. Consistency and being able to clarify for the record are key when it comes to being a court reporter, and at the end of the day, the courts need the best candidate for the job.
Ever since the nineteenth century, court reporting has been in place. Stenographers have been a crucial part of the court process for a long time, and continue to be necessary aspects of a fair trial or court session. The tools and machines used may have slightly changed, but the process is still the same. Courts need reporters to take down what has happened in a court, and while it’s conceivable to imagine a computer doing this job, the idea of relying on it solely may cause some nerves.
While audio and video recording is a vague threat to the amount of work available for court reporters, there’s no need to worry that they’ll be out of work anytime soon. While some states are setting rulings that allow the courts to swap out tech for people, with reporters and attorneys contesting it in some parts, the costs of transferring higher or hidden costs to clients and lawyers and the ultimate cost of transcription copies and buying and maintaining the tech (as well as repairing it) may cost just as much if not more in the end than stenographers– and with a lot less goodwill all around due to the financial issues.
It’s unlikely that court reporters will go the way of the dodo because tech reliance in this field is a gamble. Court reporters are going to be around for some time. For the moment, the courts need them because they’re the only ones that can be relied upon to do the job.