Court Reporter

Superior Court of Santa Cruz County • Santa Cruz Courthouse, CA • $115.61k - $129.98k / year • 1m ago

Court Reporter Hiring Incentives

$25,000 total for full-time Court Reporters hired after September 1, 2024. (Paid as follows: $15,000 following hire date, $5,000 after 2080 hours of service and $5,000 after 4160 hours of service. Payments contingent on funding)
Court Reporter State License Fee and Education - Reimbursed at actual cost up to $600 per calendar year, subject to eligibility.
Realtime Payment - Additional $300 per half day and $600 for full day on top of base pay when performing real-time services.

DEFINITION:

Under direction, to report and transcribe verbatim accounts of court proceedings; and perform other duties as required.

Court Reporters differ from Court Recording Monitors in that Court Reporters record verbatim testimony and court proceedings using stenographic equipment, transcribe the testimony and certify as to correctness; while Court Recording Monitors operate tape recording equipment to produce the official verbatim record of court proceedings, which are later transcribed by others.

Incumbents are required to complete transcripts within the time standards set by law. Substantial error in transcription or read-back could affect the verdict of a trial or be the cause of reversal of a trial or proceeding at the appellate level.

TYPICAL TASKS:
Record verbatim testimony and court proceedings using stenographic equipment; request clarification of instructions, orders or other actions to properly note the official record; prepare and read back all or portions of the official court proceedings upon instruction from the judge; prioritize request for transcripts, in order to meet legal deadlines; prepare printed and/or magnetic media transcripts using computer-aided transcription software; review and certify printed transcripts of court proceedings; maintain a variety of electronic and paper files; prepare daily transcripts; explain procedures for obtaining transcripts; and may use realtime capabilities for hearing impaired litigants or jurors.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledges and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain these knowledges and abilities would be:

Completion of required course work to obtain certification.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS/CONDITIONS

During the hours the court is open for the transaction of judicial business, incumbents shall devote full time to performance of the duties required of them by law and shall not engage in, or solicit to engage in any other employment in their professional capacity.

Certification/Registration: Possess and maintain a valid certificate as a Certified Shorthand Reporter or Certified Court Reporter, issued by the current licensing body.

Background Investigation: Fingerprinting is required.

Special Working Conditions: Exposure to offensive odors, testimony and evidence which may be disturbing, rapid and repetitive hand and finger movement.

Other Special Requirements: Incumbents provide and maintain their own equipment and cover the costs of transcribing the record, in return for a fee set by statute. Incumbents reporting and transcribing death penalty case proceedings are mandated to use computer aided transcription equipment and are required to provide transcripts daily. Incumbents may be required to travel to crime scenes, or locations at issue in a proceeding.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
KNOWLEDGE OF:
Working knowledge of:

Grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation.
Legal, medical and computer terminology.

Some knowledge of:

Business law.
Administration of Justice.
California law.
Rules of Court, as they apply to the duties of the official court reporter.

ABILITY TO:

Take shorthand on stenographic machines for extended periods of time with a high degree of accuracy.
Discern and accurately record testimony and proceedings in a noisy environment with multiple distractions, requiring focus and concentration.
Perform repetitive work requiring finger dexterity for extended periods of time.
Understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
Speak clearly and loudly to read back testimony.
Prioritize work.
Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of business.
Sit for long periods of time without a break.
Lift and move boxes of supplies and reporting equipment weighing up to twenty pounds.