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General InformationWhat is court reporting?
Court reporting is the process which creates and preserves a record of words spoken in court, and when necessary, provides their timely and accurate transcription in the event that an appeal is filed. What are the court reporting methods?Court reporters are commonly understood to be operators of stenographic court machines. Modern court reporting however can rely on other technologies such as digital recording, which may be operated from an external location. In Florida’s trial courts, a variety of methods are used to provide court reporting services. These methods include, but are not limited to, shorthand, stenography, computer-aided transcription, real-time court reporting, audio tape recording, and digital audio recording. Depending on local demographics, circuits may employ one or more of these methods in order to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Read more about these methods here. The function of court reporting is frequently discussed in two major components. The contemporaneous recording of words and events in a courtroom, whether by stenographic or by other means, is referred to as recording. The subsequent conversion of the record into written text is referred to as transcription. The overall process is referred to as court reporting. Why do we have court reporting?Court reporting is a procedural safeguard that helps to ensure equal opportunity to appeal final decisions of lower courts. In considering an appeal, an appellate court relies upon transcripts to determine whether lower courts used proper procedures and the appropriate legal principles in reaching a final decision. If a transcript is unavailable, the appellate courts would have difficulty in determining whether a case was handled in a fair manner. In America’s court system, procedural safeguards such as court reporting are set in place to ensure individual rights to due process of law. Due process is based on the principle that governments shall not deprive any person of life, liberty or property without the guarantee of fundamental fairness and justice. In Florida, our court system depends on due process services to fulfill its mission to protect rights and liberties, uphold and interpret the law, and provide for the peaceful resolution of disputes.
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