What is Realtime Court Reporting? Realtime reporting provides the judge and counsel with a text transcript while the proceedings are taking place. Because it is done in real time, it is called realtime reporting. The only two ways of making a realtime record are the stenographic method and the voicewriting method.
Both stenographic and voicewriting reporters are specially trained and utilize proprietary hardware and software, usually in conjunction with a notebook computer, to turn spoken words into readable text for others to view, search, or annotate.
Not every court reporter is a realtime reporter. Becoming a realtime writer requires extensive training, specialized hardware and software, plus lots of skill and experience.
Here’s how to get the best realtime feed:
As soon as you think you may want to employ realtime for your situation, be certain to let the freelance or official court reporter know right away.
Provide in advance a list of case cites, appearances, witnesses, and any special vocabulary associated with your case. The reporter will pre-load all this information into her writing system in advance – allowing him or her to recall complex terms or unusual names with a single stroke. This results in a faster and more accurate text stream for you to use on site.
As a participant, speak up, enunciate clearly, and be aware of the reporter who is realtiming. Speak at a moderate rate, as though you were using an interpreter.
Expect some unintelligible words (called “conflicts” or “mistranslates”) in the realtime feed, which is technically a rough draft. The reporter will edit the text later when preparing the official transcript.
Because writing in realtime is an art that requires extreme concentration and effort, allow plenty of breaks for the realtime reporter (at least five to ten minutes per hour).
With just a little forethought and some extra awareness, you can make a big difference in the quality of your realtime feed.
For more information on realtime court reporting and courtroom technology, please visit http://www.courtroom21.net.