Court reporters, court recorders, and captioners are being recognized for their essential role in accurately capturing spoken words in courtrooms and converting them into text. In South Dakota, Governor Larry Rhoden and Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen have declared February 1-8, 2025, as Court Reporting and Captioning Week.
The event emphasizes the profession's benefits such as competitive salaries, flexibility, varied work environments, and the rising demand for professionals in this field. This year's theme is “AI: The Real Accuracy & Integrity,” underscoring that artificial intelligence should not replace live stenographic court reporters or captioners who set the industry standard.
These professionals utilize advanced technology to operate stenographic machines that convert spoken words into written text instantly. They serve both within courtrooms and beyond by recording legal proceedings, providing live event captions, and assisting the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities with access to information.
In South Dakota's Unified Judicial System, both court reporters using stenographic tools and court recorders with electronic systems ensure precise records in courtrooms.
For those interested in a technologically advanced career involving writing and helping others, opportunities exist in court reporting and captioning. Information can be found at NCRA/discoversteno.org. Current job openings with the South Dakota Unified Judicial System are available at https://ujs.sd.gov/Careers/JobOpenings.aspx.