What are the people who type in the courtroom called?

Asked by: Angela Stamm DDS  |  Last update: August 4, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (18 votes)

A court reporter, court stenographer, or shorthand reporter is a person whose occupation is to capture the live testimony in proceedings using a stenographic machine or a stenomask, thereby transforming the proceedings into an official certified transcript by nature of their training, certification, and usually ...

What do you call a person who types in court?

Court reporter: A person who types every word said during the trial. The typewritten document is a permanent record of the trial.

Do stenographers type every word?

Stenography employs a technique called “phonetic writing.” Stenographers do not type every single letter of a word, but rather focus on capturing the sounds or phonemes that make up the word. This approach eliminates the need to spell out each word in its entirety, significantly speeding up the typing process.

What are the people in a courtroom called?

  • The courtroom team is comprised of the following members: COURT REPORTER.
  • COURT CLERK.
  • JUDGE.
  • PROSECUTOR.
  • COURT OFFICER.
  • DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
  • PETITIONER.
  • PLAINTIFF.

What are courtroom artists called?

Courtroom sketch artists serve as quiet chroniclers of history, recording the tension, drama and emotion of trials where cameras are not allowed.

This Is How A Court Reporter Typewriter Works

30 related questions found

What do you call a person at court?

Defendant: In civil cases, the person who is given court papers, also called a respondent. In criminal cases, the person who is arrested and charged with a crime.

Who pays stenographers?

Nearly all court reporters in California are independent contractors who work for many different agencies. Because Steno has developed a reputation for paying reporters accurately and quickly after they finish their work, reporters want to work with Steno.

Is stenography hard to learn?

Learning stenography can take a few weeks to become familiar with the basics, but becoming proficient at high speeds may take several months to a couple of years of regular practice and learning. It depends on how much time and effort you put into it.

Is stenography outdated?

There have been significant advances in court reporting technology over the past few years. While stenography may seem outdated now that video is available, there are still many advantages to using a court reporter to take depositions and record court proceedings.

How hard is a stenographer?

Though stenography is an impressive skill, it’s not something you can master overnight.  It can require years of dedicated practice and training before you can become proficient enough for professional use.  Stenographers spend countless hours honing their skills in order to achieve accuracy rates over 96%.

How do court transcribers type so fast?

They feature a modified, 22-button keyboard made of a hard acrylic material with no markings. Court reporters use these machines to record the spoken word in stenographic shorthand. This is much faster than typing out entire words, making it possible to transcribe speech at a rate of 200 words per minute or more.

Do stenographers make mistakes?

It is rare for a court reporter to make a mistake, but it does happen occasionally. Errors are rare because court reporters are fully and properly trained and have various methods of checking for accuracy. The key technology for accuracy remains the stenotype machine.

Will stenographers be replaced by AI?

AI will not replace stenography and/or human court reporters. The human element is incredibly important to legal proceedings, and stenography is no different.

How fast do stenographers type?

The average typing speed on a normal qwerty keyboard is around 40 words per minute. Professional typists can average up to twice that, with some excelling at 95 words per minute. Stenographers can type at an astounding 360 words per minute, with an accuracy rate of 99.8%. That's typing as fast as someone is speaking.

Which side does defense sit on?

Typically, the Plaintiff's table is on the right side, and the Defendant's table is on the left side. However, the Plaintiff's side has the right to sit closest to the jury box. Very often, you will see a secured door on one side of the courtroom and see a deputy positioned beside it.

Is stenography still a job?

While stenographers will no longer be a fixture in court cases, there is a bright future for them elsewhere. Merrill Legal Solutions, which employs an army of freelance stenographers, has had to diversify.

What is the fastest wpm for a stenographer?

That said, what about the maximum speeds a court reporter has reached? How fast is the world's fastest court reporter? NCRA member Mark Kislingbury of Houston, Texas is the Guinness World Records title holder for the Fastest Court Reporter in the World. Kislingbury achieved 360 wpm with 97.23% accuracy.

Do schools still teach stenography?

You can learn stenography by enrolling in courses offered by institutions like the National Court Reporters Association, community colleges, and online platforms like Udemy and Coursera.

Can stenographers type every word?

In the time it takes us to type three individual letters, a stenographer can type an entire word with the help of a stenotype machine. Because of this condensed form of typing, a stenotype keyboard has only 22 keys. This is opposed to normal computer keyboards, which have between 70 and 105 keys.

How much is stenography School?

Bryan College offers programs at several campuses in California. These programs are generally offered at $9,000-10,000. Another option to consider is a nonprofit school. Many offer diploma and associate programs for about $7,000-12,000.

Is stenography in demand?

Yes, working as a stenographer will allow you to learn and grow more. This job is highly in demand and hence, highly rewarding.

Can you say yes sir to a judge?

This will lose you the respect of the judge and the jury. Any lawyer who can make a witness mad will probably cause the witness to exaggerate, appear unobjective, and emotionally unstable. Be sure to answer "Yes Sir/Ma'am" and "No Sir/Ma'am" and to address the judge as "Your Honor. "

Who speaks first in a court case?

The side bringing the case is the side that bears the burden of proof, and thus always goes first. This is the prosecuting attorney in a criminal case, or the plaintiff in a civil case. The defense then follows with their opening statement.

Who is more powerful, a judge or a prosecutor?

Prosecutors are the most powerful officials in the American criminal justice system. The decisions they make, particularly the charging and plea-bargaining decisions, control the operation of the system and often predetermine the outcome of criminal cases.