If you’re preparing for a court proceeding, you might be wondering who’ll be present. While you can expect attorneys and judges, there will also be a court stenographer. Here’s a quick guide to help you better understand what these professionals do and why they’re important.

What Does It Take to Become a Stenographer?

These professionals must pass the National Court Reporters Association’s Registered Professionals Reporter Certification Exam. To achieve this certification, students must be able to maintain a certain level of words per minute, which is tested during the skills part of the final exam. For testimonies or question-and-answer sessions, they need to type at least 225 words per minute (wpm). For jury charges, they should maintain at least 200 wpm. Students are also required to complete a written portion of the test, which goes over information regarding best practices and legal guidelines they need to follow.

Once their education is complete, eligible candidates will file for approval from the Hawaii Board of Certified Shorthand Reporters. To receive approval, they must take another exam and invest in insurance.

What Do Court Stenographers Contribute to Legal Proceedings?

The documents they create provide a detailed overview of what was said and expressed during the proceedings. Their records present an unbiased account of evidence and arguments, allowing judges to make decisions that are based on what was said, rather than relying on memory, which can be flawed. A physical copy also reduces the risk of technical difficulties, such as chopped or lost sound bytes or corrupt files.

All acting members of a proceeding can relay back to the transcriptions at any time. For example, if an attorney has a question about a quote or statement made earlier in the trial, they can ask the judge to have the stenographer read back the record. Attorneys and judges may also ask for copies of the transcriptions to review in their quarters during a recess.

If your law firm could benefit from the accuracy of a court stenographer, contact the professionals at Ralph Rosenberg-Court Reporters in Honolulu, HI. Their skilled team has over 15 years of experience and is familiar with deposition and arbitration court reporting as well as government hearings. This local firm also offers conference rooms with video capabilities for depositions. Read client testimonials online, or call (808) 524-2090 to reserve a court reporter.