3 Reasons to Hire a Court Reporter
You hope that you’ll never face a lawsuit, but many people end up in one at some point. You might be facing a personal injury suit, a divorce hearing, or a workers’ compensation case. Whatever you’re reason, you’ll be glad you have a good lawyer in Bethlehem, PA, or wherever you live, on your side to plead your case.
Sometimes, your attorney will recommend hiring a court reporter. You’ll want a transcript of your case, and sometimes you’ll be unable to proceed to final judgment if you don’t have a court reporter present to affirm the court’s ruling.
If you’re ever part of a court case, whether as the plaintiff or as the defendant, here are three reasons you’ll be glad you hired a court reporter.
Real Time and Accurate Translations
The testimonies given by witnesses, whether in a deposition or in court, are vital to your case. You want an accurate, on-time translation of those testimonies for your records, and the only way to get that is through a stenographic or verbatim reporter, also known as a court reporter.
One of the most beneficial aspects of having an accurate translation is the ability for a court reporter to manage dialogue in the proceedings. Both sides of the court case commonly get upset, and words can fly back and forth very quickly. People will talk over each other, and you’ll have a hard time getting down what they’re trying to say.
Court reporters are trained to intervene in an appropriate manner. They can request that each person gets their turn to talk so that they can get everything down for the records. Having every word recorded correctly on the transcript is vital if there’s ever a recall of the proceedings.
Expert Reporting
You may have never stepped foot in a trial room, and the whole process can be very confusing. Court reporters, on the other hand, have been through trials often. A reporter knows how to accurately record every word, even when technology fails.
A digital recorder is far different from a court reporter. A digital recorder has about two weeks worth of training on how to digitally record court proceedings. Unfortunately, their recordings are not always accurate or clear. They will type a transcript, but they may write things down incorrectly or the technology may fail.
A court reporter, on the other hand, is trained for this specific purpose. They usually have college training, whether it’s a two-year technical associate’s or a bachelor’s degree. They learn legal jargon, how to operate technology, proper protocol in the courtroom, and other essentials of accurate reporting.
They’ll also learn how to report accurately for court proceedings in their state. Court reporters in Miami, for example, must adhere to Florida laws regarding confidentiality, legal processes, and other guidelines. You can rest assured that you’re getting accurate records on your case, no matter where you live.
Ready Drafts of the Proceedings
Having someone on-site who will provide a draft of the transcript whenever you need it is important. You may ask for a reading of the draft during the court proceedings or later.
During a deposition, for example, you may need to have a portion of the testimony read back to you. Court reporters are trained to scan their transcript quickly so they can read it back to you without hesitation. Readings from digital recorders take some time because the technology is bulky and the reporters are minimally trained.
Additionally, the final draft of your transcript after the proceedings will arrive much faster. Most court reporters can deliver a final draft to you right after court adjourns. You won’t have to wait for days or weeks for the transcript to be typed up as you would with a digital recorder.
Your attorney can probably explain a few more benefits about court reporters, so be sure to ask any question that comes to mind.
