Author: Angie Starbuck

The 12 Most Common Questions from Attorneys and Paralegals About Court Reporting — Answered by PRI Court Reporting

The 12 Most Common Questions from Attorneys and Paralegals About Court Reporting — Answered by PRI Court Reporting

For more than 45 years, PRI Court Reporting has been trusted by law firms, corporations, and courts across Ohio and the Midwest for precise, professional, and reliable record-taking. Over the years, we’ve heard many of the same questions from attorneys, paralegals, and clients — about our process, our technology, and what makes this profession so vital to the justice system.

We’ve gathered the answers to the most frequently asked questions about court reporting — drawn from our experience and expertise. Whether you’re a longtime client or simply curious about what we do, this guide offers a behind-the-scenes look at the work we do that ensures every word counts.

1. Is Court Reporting Being Replaced by Artificial Intelligence?

While technology supports our work, it cannot replace it. AI lacks the context, accuracy, and impartiality that certified court reporters provide. At PRI, we use technology to enhance our service — never to replace the human expertise that defines it.

2. What’s the Difference Between a Stenographic Court Reporter and a Digital Court Recorder?

A stenographic court reporter captures testimony live, in real time, using a stenographic machine or voice-writing equipment. A digital court recorder typically records the proceedings and after the proceedings, a transcriptionist produces a transcript from the recording. Every PRI transcript is produced and certified by a trained stenographic court reporter — ensuring it’s admissible, accurate, and complete.

3. Is There a Shortage of Court Reporters?

Not necessarily a shortage, but as veteran reporters retire, the demand for skilled reporters continues to rise nationwide. It’s one reason PRI invests in supporting and retaining experienced professionals. Our clients benefit from PRI’s longstanding relationships and reputation for stability.

4. How Long Does It Take to Get a Transcript?

Turnaround times depend on your needs. PRI offers standard delivery for most transcripts, which is 10 business days, along with expedited and daily copy services when time is critical. Every transcript is reviewed for accuracy and formatted to our transcript specifications — ensuring quality never takes a back seat to speed.

5. What Is Realtime Reporting?

Realtime reporting allows attorneys to view the transcript as it’s being written — word for word — during the proceeding. It’s invaluable for strategy, review, and note-taking. PRI’s Certified Realtime Reporters provide this service seamlessly, both in person and remotely.

6. Do You Offer Remote or Hybrid Depositions?

Yes. PRI was among the first in Central Ohio to adopt secure, reliable remote deposition technology. Whether your case involves local witnesses or participants across the country, our team handles every detail — from virtual exhibits to realtime streaming — with the same professionalism you expect in person.

7. Can I Get a Rough Draft Transcript the Same Day?

Absolutely. When strategy can’t wait, PRI offers rough drafts delivered within hours of your proceeding. Our reporters use advanced realtime software to assist in producing accurate drafts quickly, allowing you to review testimony and prepare for the next day’s session with confidence.

8. Do You Provide Videography or Legal Video Services?

Certainly.  PRI can schedule legal videographers who work seamlessly alongside our court reporters to create a synchronized record of both testimony and demeanor. We also provide video-text synchronization for trial presentation, formatted to your specifications.

9. Are Your Court Reporters Certified?

Yes, PRI’s reporters are highly trained and experienced professionals holding state and national certifications such as Registered Professional Reporter (RPR), Registered Merit Reporter (RMR), and Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR). We also have reporters certified in California, Illinois, and Michigan.  Certification ensures our reporters meet the highest standards for speed, accuracy, and ethics.

10. How Does PRI Handle Depositions That Run Long or Get Rescheduled?

We understand that legal proceedings can change quickly. Our scheduling team remains flexible and responsive, adjusting to extensions, cancellations, or new start times with professionalism and courtesy.

11. How Can I Schedule a Deposition with PRI?

We make scheduling simple. You can schedule online at priohio.com, call our scheduling team, or email directly. Whether your proceeding is in person, remote, or hybrid, PRI coordinates every detail so you can focus on your case — not logistics.

12. Why Choose PRI Court Reporting?

Because experience matters. For over 45 years, PRI has partnered with attorneys, firms, and courts who value reliability and excellence. From realtime reporting to secure file management, we provide complete, client-focused solutions tailored to your needs.  Every transcript, every proceeding, every client receives the full measure of our attention and expertise. We’re not just capturing words — we’re preserving accuracy, trust, and the integrity of the record.

Closing Thoughts

Court reporting is more than a profession — it’s a commitment to the preservation of the legal record. At PRI, we’ve built our reputation on that commitment for over four decades. Whether you’re an attorney, paralegal, or client, you can count on us to deliver clarity, confidentiality, and excellence on every page.

PRI Court Reporting — Experience. Precision. Integrity.
Visit us at priohio.com to schedule your next proceeding or learn more about our services.

The 6 Most Common Questions About Court Reporting — Answered by PRI Court Reporting

The 6 Most Common Questions About Court Reporting — Answered by PRI Court Reporting

If you’ve ever watched a courtroom scene on TV or attended a legal proceeding, you’ve likely noticed someone quietly typing on a small machine beside the judge or attorneys. That’s the court reporter — and their job is one of the most important (and least understood) roles in the justice system.

At PRI Court Reporting, we’ve been capturing the official record for more than 45 years. Over the years, we’ve heard countless questions from curious clients, witnesses, students, and community members who want to know more about what we do and how it all works.

Here, we’re answering the most common questions we receive— from “How do you type so fast?” to “Is AI taking over your job?” — to give you a closer look at the fascinating world of court reporting.

1. What Does a Court Reporter Do?

At PRI, our role as court reporters goes beyond typing quickly. Court reporters are the guardians of the record — capturing every word spoken in a deposition, hearing, or arbitration with precision and neutrality. The transcript we produce becomes an official legal document that attorneys, judges, and clients rely on for accuracy.  When the record matters, experience matters.

2. Is Court Reporting Being Replaced by Artificial Intelligence?

While technology supports our work, it cannot replace it. AI lacks the context, accuracy, and impartiality that certified court reporters provide. At PRI, we use technology to enhance our service — never to replace the human expertise that defines it.

3. How Do Court Reporters Type So Fast?

Through years of practice and precision. Court reporters use a stenograph machine that captures syllables or words in single strokes. Experienced professionals routinely write over 225 words per minute — ensuring even the most fast-paced testimony is recorded accurately.

4. How Can I Become a Court Reporter?

Stenographic court reporting is a rewarding, in-demand career for those who value language, law, and technology. Training typically takes two to three years, followed by certification testing. There are many online and in-person court reporting programs across the country.  PRI proudly supports learning and mentorship to prepare the next generation of reporters.

5. Is There a Shortage of Court Reporters?

Not necessarily a shortage, but as veteran reporters retire, the demand for skilled reporters continues to rise nationwide. It’s one reason PRI invests in supporting and retaining experienced professionals. Our clients benefit from PRI’s longstanding relationships and reputation for stability.

6. Can Court Reporters Work Remotely?

Yes — and it’s one of the most exciting parts of the profession today.
Modern court reporting blends technology and flexibility, allowing skilled reporters to work from virtually anywhere. At PRI, our reporters are equipped with secure, high-speed connections and advanced realtime software that make remote proceedings seamless. Whether reporting from a home office or onsite in a courtroom, the work remains precise, professional, and deeply rewarding.

Court reporting offers the best of both worlds — a respected legal career and the freedom to work wherever accuracy and technology come together.

Closing Thoughts

Court reporters are one of the most important participants in the legal system, ensuring every word is preserved with complete accuracy. At PRI, we take pride in that responsibility. For more than four decades, we’ve built our reputation on professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to excellence that serves both the legal community and the public it represents.

So the next time you see a court reporter quietly working at their machine, you’ll know they’re not just typing — they’re preserving history, one word at a time.

PRI Court Reporting — Experience. Precision. Integrity.
Learn more at priohio.com

Is Your GPS Set to the Right Destination?

Is Your GPS Set to the Right Destination?

Every year the National Court Reporters Association holds a Business Summit for court reporters and firm owners to network with other firm owners and gain business tools to help with their success.  Photo by capnsnap on Unsplash

While attending the Business Summit this year, we attended a session that was presented by a very engaging speaker by the name of Karim Ellis.  He was full of personality and was able to present his ideas and message in a very relatable way.

One of his sessions was called “GPS Your Success.”  Here’s the theory:  When you enter your destination into a GPS, that GPS will focus solely on getting you to that destination.  You may take detours, you may have distractions, but that GPS stays focused on the destination you entered.

How does this relate to your life and career?  Setting a goal and achieving it is similar to using a GPS to arrive at your destination.  Here’s how Karim described the similarities:

  1.  Set a goal/vision.  You have to set your vision or goal that you want to achieve.  It could be long-term or short-term.  This is like setting the address in your GPS.
  2. Clarity helps the journey. Be very clear and specific about how you will achieve that goal.  Remember, the opposite of clarity is confusion.  If you don’t have specific steps to reach your goal, you’ll easily get off track or confused about your goal.  Imagine if your GPS gave you unclear directions – would you be able to reach your destination as easily or quickly?
  3. Connectability vs. dead zones. Who are you connecting with to help you achieve your goal?  Do you have an accountability partner?  Are the people you are connecting with helping you to achieve your desired goal?  What are your dead zones?  Dead zones could be friends, family, or even your job.  What stops your GPS from working towards your goal?
  4. Dealing with distractions. While distractions will come along during your journey, if you have a stated goal, clarity on how to achieve it (even if there are distractions) you can get back on track towards your goal.  Just like a GPS stays focused only on the address you enter; it will keep recalculating and getting you back on track to your destination.
  5. Are you loyal? Check the history log on your journey – have you entered lots of “addresses” that don’t get you to your ultimate goal?  Are you staying loyal to your path towards that goal?

This analogy seems to be relatable to a personal goal, professional goal, and even students working to get through school.  Think of your journey towards a goal as being similar to traveling with a GPS.  Applying these principles will help you stay on track and achieve that goal you have set for yourself!

Happy travels!! 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck, RDR/CRR/CRC is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC. Connect with her on LinkedIn.  You can also follow PRI Court Reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

You can find more information about Karim R. Ellis here or on Twitter and Facebook.

Protect Your Client. Protect Your Record.

Protect Your Client. Protect Your Record.

Can we have a word?

You may be receiving marketing materiSteno machine standardals and sales pitches from national court reporting firms about alternative ways to preserve testimony at your depositions, namely “digital reporting.”  They are suggesting you change the language of your deposition notices to “broadly reflect variable methods  of capture.”  Perhaps you haven’t heard a thing about this yet.  Either way, it’s important that you are fully aware of some of the complications of this emerging practice.

These national firms are suggesting that digital reporting at a deposition is comparable to having a stenographic reporter present at the deposition.  They are suggesting that a shortage of stenographic court reporters has created a need for this alternative method of preserving testimony.  They are suggesting that this will assure you coverage for your depositions.  We disagree with this stance and we feel very strongly that the stenographic profession is strong, very capable, and committed to the service we provide to the legal community.

While we are not seeing these challenges in the Ohio area yet, there are cities across the country where attorneys that are required by their client to use these large firms (an issue for another day!) are facing the challenge of getting their depositions covered with stenographic reporters, thereby having to reschedule or cancel them.   There are several reasons some of these national firms have trouble finding court reporters to cover these jobs, including low rates to the court reporter due to contracting with insurance companies and corporations.

As a local, court reporter-owned firm with over 30 years of experience, we want to make sure you have enough information to understand the complexities of this situation if you’re ever faced with it, either in Ohio or when traveling to other cities for depositions.

In the states that have court reporting certification and professional standards, such as California and Texas, having a digital “reporter” present at a deposition could jeopardize your record, your case, and your relationship with your client.  In California, stenographic reporters are licensed by a board in the same state department that regulates CPAs, physicians, and other professionals1.  They are subject to discipline by that board for their conduct.   Machine operators or digital recorders are not trained, certified, or regulated in any way by the state.

According to the Deposition Reporters Association of California, when you agree to utilize a digital reporter for your deposition in California, you run the risk of the following:

Here are just a few advantages of having a stenographic reporter over a digital reporter, regardless of where your deposition is held:

The bottom line here is that there are still many qualified, certified stenographic court reporters available for depositions across the country.  Don’t let the national firms scare you into changing your deposition notice language to include “digital audio equipment or any other alternative means of capture.”

Choose a licensed or certified stenographic court reporter for your record every time.  If you’re traveling to other cities or states for your deposition, be sure to request a “stenographic court reporter” when scheduling with your chosen court reporting firm.  If you ask for a certified stenographic court reporter (whether certified by the state or NCRA), you can be assured you’ll receive a quality transcript, which is exactly what you and your client deserve.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck, RDR/CRR/CRC is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC. Connect with her on LinkedIn.  You can also follow PRI Court Reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

1Deposition Reporters Association of California, Inc., www.caldra.org

2There are many, many examples of malfunctions. Here is an excerpt from a 2012 case in New York involving a prisoner: “[t]he petitioner’s transcriber documented numerous and lengthy gaps in the hearing tape, which rendered much of the transcript unintelligible. Based upon the foregoing, the Court found that the condition of the transcript was such that it, indeed, precluded meaningful review of the disciplinary determination.”

3CCP section 2025.340(m): “ … If no stenographic record of the deposition testimony has previously been made, the party offering an audio or video recording of that testimony under Section 2025.620 [impeachment] shall accompany that offer with a stenographic transcript prepared from that recording. (Emphasis added.) “Audio or video recordings made by the parties or by the deposition reporter … are not considered recordings of the proceedings. Only the stenographic transcript qualifies” ]Weil & Brown, Cal. Prac. Guide Civ. Pro. Before Trial Ch. 8E-14, The Rutter Group,(June 2018), Chapter 8. Discovery, Chapter 8E. Depositions, 14. [8:766], “If the testimony is recorded stenographically, it must be recorded by a certified shorthand reporter.” Serrano v. Stefan Merli Plastering Co. (2008) 162 Cal.App.4th 1014, 1033

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Last Minute Holiday Tips

Last Minute Holiday Tips

(Let me just clarify, I know this photo has nothing to do with a healthyChristmas palm trees
lifestyle, but it’s got a holiday feeling and they’re palm trees –
what’s more relaxing than seeing those in your inbox?!?)

There are some “holiday tips” that can be used year round.  The challenge is trying to remember them on a regular basis!  This blog post features some tips we gained at a luncheon seminar put on by the Women Lawyers of Franklin County which featured a presentation by two Columbus attorneys, Stephanie Hanna (OSBA) and Simi Botic (health coach).

Stephanie and Simi offered simple tips to start a practice of self-care in three areas of our lives that can wreak havoc on our health, our diet, and our sanity!  Here are just a few of their great tips:

Relationships

Career

Health

With the holidays on top of us, everyone’s life gets a little more hectic, so don’t try to make a lot of changes all at once.  Pick one or two of these to focus on at a time and then gradually add another.  Thinking you need to change many habits all at once will set you up for failure.  One of my favorite messages is, “Forgive yourself for your inability to be perfect.”  Perfection cannot be achieved, but, rather, setting a goal to make yourself better than you were the day before is manageable.

You can find many more inspirational posts on Simi’s blog.

My wish for you is that you enjoy the holidays, enjoy the people in your life, and take the time to nourish your spirit!

Angie sigt 2.jpg

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.

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Would You Jeopardize Your Case?

Would You Jeopardize Your Case?

 

justice-683942_640

Many attorneys and paralegals across the country get calls, e-mails, solicitations from large court reporting firms with an offer of great perks if the attorney will agree to allow that firm to cover all of their depositions.  Perhaps you personally have been the recipient of these efforts.  Your client, whether a large corporation or insurance company, may also be the recipient of these efforts.  These offers always sound beneficial in one way or another.  It may be a reduced rate on the transcript order.  It may be a waived appearance fee.  It may be gift cards to restaurants, iPads, bottles of wine.  All of these can be enticing and may be persuasive in your decision to switch court reporting firms.

However, there are several reasons this practice is not in your best interest or that of your client, the most important of which is the risks this could mean to your case.  Many states have adopted rules prohibiting certain contractual arrangements for court reporting services, including Ohio.

The Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, specifically Rule 28(D), state that, “(1) Any blanket contract for private court reporting services, not related to a particular case or reporting incident, shall be prohibited between a private court reporter or any other person with whom a private court reporter has a principal and agency relationship, and any attorney, party to an action, party having a financial interest in an action, or any entity providing the services of a shorthand reporter. (2) “Blanket contract” means a contract under which a court reporter, court recorder, or court reporting firm agrees to perform all court reporting or court recording services for a client for two or more cases at a rate of compensation fixed in the contract.”

The Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure also state, “This prohibition is enforceable by the court in which the underlying action is pending. Enforceability is implicitly recognized by Civ. R. 32(D)(2), which requires reasonable diligence of a party in raising a disqualification issue.”  Rule 32(D)(2) states, “Objection to taking a deposition because of disqualification of the officer before whom it is to be taken is waived unless made before the taking of the deposition begins or as soon thereafter as the disqualification becomes known or could be discovered with reasonable diligence.”  This leaves the burden of discovering any reasons for disqualification on the attorneys in the case, one of which could be the violation of Rule 28(D) by the court reporter or court reporting firm.

So the question is: Would you want to risk your case, or your client’s goodwill and reputation, for a few cents per page, a bottle of wine, or restaurant gift cards?

As officers of the court, court reporters have a responsibility to be fair and impartial toward each participant in all aspects of reported proceedings and be alert to situations that are conflicts of interest or that may give the appearance of a conflict of interest.  We should also guard against not only the fact but the appearance of impropriety. (NCRA, 2017)

Sarah Nageotte, Executive Director of the Ohio Court Reporters Association and a Past President of the National Court Reporters Association, indicates that “Court reporters have long been held as the guardians of the record.  Litigants, the Bar, and the public must have confidence and trust in the process, and it is vital that the court reporting community fulfills its role impartially and above reproach.”

The National Court Reporters Association’s Committee on Professional Ethics and Board of Directors have adopted the following language, stating that members, “Refrain from giving, directly or indirectly, any gift or anything of value to attorneys or their staff, other clients or their staff, or any other persons or entities associated with any litigation, which exceeds $150 in the aggregate per recipient each year.   Nothing offered in exchange for future work is permissible, regardless of its value. “

Protect yourself and your client. Hire a reporter based on skill and experience who puts ethics first.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck, RDR/CRR/CRC, is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC. She is an NCRA member and an NCRA Ethics First member.  Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.

A Celebration of Life and a Life of Service

A Celebration of Life and a Life of Service

Five years ago, I purchased PRI from my longtime boss and mentor, Linda Sturm.  Five years ago, I wrote a blog article to celebrate her birthday.  This November, I attended a Celebration of Life service to honor, remember, and celebrate the life of Linda, who was no ordinary woman.  Her friends, family, coworkers, and employees all gathered to celebrate her life and her journey in this world.  I feel honored and fortunate to have shared 20 years of my career with Linda.  I am a better person, court reporter, and firm owner because of her.

Below is the blog article I wrote in 2012 to celebrate and honor Linda’s birthday.  I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that this year, too, she is embarking on a new journey in heaven with her God.

 

A young man is graduating from Marine Corps boot camp this weekend. He is a Marine today and will be forever. His name is Zachary and he is only 19 years old. Zach is on the doorstep of the rest of his life and I’m sure he is proud, happy, and scared all at the same time. The Marine Corps also celebrates its birthday tomorrow. This is a unique holiday for these warriors, who celebrate and honor the Corps and country.

Linda Sturm, the founder of PRI, is also celebrating her birthday on November 10. It took me almost 20 years to put two and two together to realize that Linda and the Marine Corps share the same birthday. And how appropriate to recognize that fact in 2012. Linda founded this company over 30 years ago, and at the time, I’m sure she felt many of the same feelings Zach will be feeling this weekend. It was probably an overwhelming, scary, yet happy time for her! Linda is also embarking on a new stage of her life in 2013, one that is probably equally uncertain, yet happy, since she has retired from PRI.

As the sister of a Marine, a friend of Zach’s, and a loyal employee and friend of Linda’s, I’m pleased that they are all sharing this special day. I wish them all the very best of luck, the strength to face their challenges, and the protection of the Lord as they move forward.

Happy birthday, Linda, and the Marine Corps.  Congratulations, Zach, and Godspeed.

Introducing Sarah Tsekretsidis, PRI Court Reporting Office Administrator

Introducing Sarah Tsekretsidis, PRI Court Reporting Office Administrator

Webp.net-resizeimagePlease join us in welcoming Sarah Tsekretsidis to the PRI team.  Sarah is our office administrator and handles our invoicing, scheduling, payroll, accounting, and office administration.  Sarah has picked up very quickly on the court reporting industry and she is able to provide solutions to our clients’ challenges. She is very thorough and has excellent customer relations skills, working to resolve client requests promptly.

Here’s an opportunity to learn a little more about Sarah:

How long have you been working at PRI Court Reporting?
I have been with PRI since April 2017.

Describe what you do at PRI.
At PRI, I am the Office Administrator. I help with everything from scheduling depositions to invoicing to tech support. I am usually the first person you talk to when calling our office.

Did you have any court reporting experience prior to joining PRI?
I did not. This industry was completely new to me.

What is your favorite part about working at PRI?
I love that no two days are the same, and there’s always something new to learn. It’s awesome that I have co-workers that allow me to ask a ton of questions to understand the ins and outs of the court reporting field.

Where are you from or where did you grow up?
Born and raised right here in Columbus!

What was the first job you ever had?
I was a babysitter for my first job in middle school. I had a couple of families I would sit for. Then I became a hostess at Old Bag of Nails in high school.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
When I’m not at work, I’m out adventuring with my family. From swim lessons to Crew games to metro parks, we always find something to do. I have also really started to enjoy cooking. It’s been fun finding new and unusual veggies to try and incorporate into dishes. And I always try to take up gardening, but fail miserably at it.

What is one thing our clients don’t know about you?
Probably how to pronounce my last name.  🙂  It’s see-krit-si-dees.
Or like the two words: secret – cds

What is one thing you would like our clients to know about scheduling jobs with PRI?
With scheduling, the more details the better. This is especially helpful with depositions where one or more parties will be attending remotely. If I can know all the details about who is expected to be where, then I can effectively communicate the phone or videoconference details – ensuring no party gets left out.

What is your favorite restaurant in Columbus?
Nada, in the Arena District. Their tacos are amazing, and I can’t get enough of the chili-glazed potatoes.

What is your favorite app?
Giphy. So many gifs to choose from, it never disappoints.

What’s on your iPod?
iPod?! Do they still make those 😉  I have recently gotten into podcasts. I like listening to shows that revolve around health and wellness, mindfulness, and of course a good ol’ mystery.

 

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about Sarah.  Look for more interviews with other PRI Court Reporting staff in the future.

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In Memory of Linda Sturm

In Memory of Linda Sturm

lindasturm1955-2017

Our hearts are very heavy today after the passing of one of the co-founders of PRI, Linda Sturm. Linda co-founded Professional Reporters, Inc. (PRI) in 1980 and worked tirelessly to advance the court reporting field as well as the CART/captioning field. She was a leader in Columbus in both areas, which is demonstrated by being one of the first to provide realtime translation in depositions and developing and providing closed captioning for WCMH.

Linda had the opportunity to work alongside some of the best attorneys the city of Columbus has had. She often traveled with her clients to depositions and has been as far away as Germany, Slovenia, Norway, and Spain. She enjoyed attending depositions and meeting face-to-face with clients. Her Christmas parties from the early days of PRI are legendary!

Linda also had a great sense of humor, was thoughtful and giving, and led by example. Many court reporters attribute their success as a reporter to the mentorship of Linda.

She believed in sharing her expertise and experience with others, and did so by mentoring many young court reporters (and even some with more experience!), and by serving our associations at both the state and national level. Linda was a past president, vice president, and district director of the Ohio Court Reporters Association, and she worked diligently with the Ohio Supreme Court on the Task Force on the Certification of Court Reporters. She was very strong in her advocacy of our profession.

Most importantly, Linda touched the lives of many of us who were lucky enough to cross her path, both on a personal and professional level. Many court reporters in the Columbus area have either worked with Linda or worked for her at PRI, and she was a true leader and mentor. She encouraged us to push ourselves as reporters, instilled confidence in our abilities, and encouraged us to participate in our state and national associations.

Linda had such a positive attitude and she would encourage us to be grateful for everything we’ve experienced. However, we can’t help but mourn the loss the court reporting profession, the legal community, and the CART/captioning community is experiencing today.

The words of the Wisconsin Court Reporters Association sum up the important role Linda has played in PRI over the years and how she will continue to guide us.

Our past began with you
Our present is because of you
Our future will always know you
Your contributions will live on forever

Jury Duty and CART

Jury Duty and CART

Sample of CART display
Sample of CART display

Recently PRI was contacted to provide CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) services to a potential juror in Franklin County, Ohio, who was hard of hearing.  This individual (consumer) has used CART services in the past and was very familiar with the benefits and impact of CART.

CART is accomplished by having a court reporter listening and taking down what is being said and transmitting the feed to a laptop for the consumer to view and read.  It is the position of the National Court Reporters Association that, “A CART provider should refrain from working in the dual capacity of official reporter of proceedings and CART,” unless no other option exists.  That’s where PRI became involved.

After some discussion on the logistics with the court staff, I attended the first jury pool meeting with the consumer and sat with her until she was called for voir dire (questioning of potential jury members) in a courtroom.  I then proceeded to sit with her and provide CART for her until the trial began.  The consumer was selected as a juror and another CART provider worked with her throughout the rest of the trial (see the blog post from her here).

There were three exciting things about this assignment for me:

I always enjoy the opportunity to share our profession with the public and, at the same time, provide much-needed services so that a consumer can participate in an event or meeting just like everyone else.  If you ever have the opportunity to talk with a court reporter or CART provider, feel free to ask them about their profession (preferably on a break, when they’re not writing!) and I’m sure they would be glad to share their experiences with you.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angie Starbuck, RDR, CRR, CRC is a court reporter in Columbus, Ohio, and the owner of PRI Court Reporting, LLC.  PRI has been a leader in the CART and captioning services industry for over 25 years and provides CART and captioning regularly for individuals in the legal, corporate, and educational settings.  Connect with Angie on LinkedIn.  You can also follow PRI Court Reporting on Twitter and Facebook.

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