Court Reporting Methods Used in Florida’s Trial Courts

Court Reporting Methods Used in Florida’s Trial Courts

The technology of what is today called court reporting has evolved through time and continues to

change. Throughout most of the 20th century court reporting was conducted by reporters using

stenographic machines. Today court reporting in Florida is provided through a combination of

technologies. A description of the most commonly used court reporting methods is provided

below.

Stenography

The stenograph machine, introduced in 1913, essentially mechanized shorthand, or manual

stenography. Using a stenograph machine, a stenographer presses a system of keys, which in turn

stenography. Computer-aided transcription, or CAT, became possible when small computers

were added to stenograph machines, allowing the keystrokes to be recorded on a disk or in the

internal memory of the computer, as well as on the paper tape. This digitized record can then be

translated into unedited text by the computer. If a written transcript is needed, a stenographer or

transcriptionist edits the text before the official transcript is made available.

Real-Time Court Reporting

As computers became faster and more powerful, CAT systems became capable of translating a

digitized record contemporaneously, producing an unedited written document even as the record

is captured. The unedited text can be viewed immediately, and later corrected by the

stenographer. The speed and quality of this type of system, known as real-time stenography, is

familiar to anyone who has followed the closed caption text of a live television program.

Voice Writing

Voice writing involves a court reporter speaking directly into a voice silencer, which is a hand-

The development of analog recording technology in the 20th century made it possible to directly

capture and preserve the actual sounds of spoken words. By the 1960s, some courts were using

tape recorders. The best technology at the time was magnetic, or analog, tape. It is still used by

some courts today, most commonly in proceedings that are not likely to need transcripts. A more

recent method for capturing the proceeding is analog video recording (i.e., VHS). For both video

and storing the tapes; the skills required are far less than those expected for a stenographer. Tape

recorders are often operated by personnel who have other duties in the courtroom, such as clerk

of court staff, a bailiff, or even a judge or magistrate. If a written transcript is needed, the audio

may be played back and transcribed by a court reporter to produce a written document.

Digital Audio/Video Recording

The current state of the art technology for audio/video recording employs digital recording

instead of analog tape. Digital court recording is the audio, and often video, recording of a court

proceeding using digital technology that may be saved to a CD, DVD, network drive, or server.

With most digital court recording technology, microphones are strategically placed in areas of a

courtroom where judges, attorneys, parties, witnesses, and juries are located.

Video cameras may also be placed in order to visually capture proceedings.

There are three basic types of digital court recording operating technology. The first type is a

portable device such as a lap-top or hand-held device (MP3 player). These devices allow for

recording in one location at a time and are typically operated by a digital court reporter, judge, or

magistrate. The next type is a non-portable stand-alone system or workstation that is permanently

located in a courtroom or hearing room. These systems are typically operated by a digital court

reporter.

The third type is a remote system in which the audio/video is recorded to a server and monitored

proceeding. These “tags” are digitally saved with the record and act as an index for the recording

and for creating the transcript. The digital court reporter also provides instant playback during a

proceeding when directed to do so by the judge.