Legal Definitions - court reporter

A court reporter is a person who records everything that is said during a court proceeding. They use special tools like stenography or voice writing to transcribe the testimony word-for-word. The written transcript is then used by judges and lawyers to review the proceedings and prepare for future hearings or trials.

• During a trial, the court reporter sat in the front of the courtroom and typed everything that was said by the witnesses, lawyers, and judge.
• After the deposition, the court reporter prepared a written transcript of the witness's testimony for the lawyers to review.
• During a hearing, the court reporter used a stenotype machine to quickly type out the words being spoken.

These examples illustrate how court reporters are responsible for accurately documenting everything that is said during a court proceeding. Their written transcripts are important records that can be used by lawyers to prepare for future hearings or trials, or by judges to make decisions based on the testimony given.