Court reporters provide the critical role of documenting every case presented before a judge word-for-word. Their transcripts are filed and are usually a matter of public record, but some people may question why permanent court records are necessary at all. Due to the way our judicial system is structured, there are numerous reasons attorneys may need court records.

Why Court Records Are Necessary

1. Support Arguments

In both trial and appeal cases, attorneys rely on established rulings from other cases to support their arguments. To do so, they may recite a court reporter’s record of past cases verbatim in their legal motions and filings. Judges will also review court records when making a ruling in their cases.

2. Win an Appeal

When an attorney files an appeal, a record of the case being appealed is needed, so the appellate court can understand the facts of the case, its relevant proceedings, and why the case is being appealed. Attorneys for both parties often cite the record on appeal in briefs and arguments submitted to the court.

3. Prove Judicial Violations

When a judge issues a ruling, all parties in the case must abide by the decision, and it’s added to the court record. If someone fails to abide by the ruling, a court record is needed to prove it. For example, if a father fails to pay court-ordered child support, the record must be cited by an attorney when requesting punitive action.

Attorneys know that accurate records are essential in any case. As the largest reporting firm in Honolulu, HI, Ralph Rosenberg-Court Reporters has earned a reputation for supplying trained and experienced court reporters. They offer dependable deposition services, court reporting, video conferencing assistance, and convenient meeting rooms, so you can document every step of a case. Call (808) 524-2090 to speak with a member of their team, or visit their website to learn more about their services.