Court Reporter - Part Time (Stenography and Voice Writer)

Job Description:

Position Summary

Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma
Invites applications for the position of:

Salary - flat rate:
 Court Reporter                                               $56.92Court Reporter - Real Time/CART                $60.37
Court Reporter - National Certification       $61.45
Hiring Bonus! $15,000 upon hire; $5,000 after first anniversary, $5,000 after second anniversary and $5,000 after third anniversary 
Definition
Under general direction, an Official Superior Court Court Reporter reports and transcribes the verbatim record of official court proceedings, prepares and certifies transcripts at the direction of the Court, reads the record aloud in court in accordance with applicable Government Codes, Rules of Court, and Statutes.    In addition, the Court Reporter Real Time 3% and 8%  provides CART services to assist the hearing impaired in any ADA related cases or any other special cases as directed by the Court, and provides real-time as directed by the Court Executive Officer or his/her designee.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Positions in this class accurately record and produce the official verbatim record of all testimony and proceedings, including transcripts, in cases heard before the Superior Court and other agencies as directed. Reporters provide their own equipment and supplies; maintain their own records and tapes; and are paid separately for transcripts. Preparation of transcripts is accomplished outside of regular working hours. Those who are designated in a Real Time/CART role provide real-time services, as requested. 

Typical Duties

Attends sessions of the Superior Court as assigned and makes an official verbatim record of the proceedings by use of stenograph, or by use of voice writing equipment; provides read back of all or portions of the record instantaneously, to judges, counsel, witnesses, and jurors during court proceedings, to judges in chambers, and to jurors during deliberations.
 
Prepares a timely typewritten transcript of all or part of the court record upon proper request of the parties or order of the Court in the format prescribed by the Court and statute; and certifies the final transcript. Preparation of transcripts is accomplished outside of regular working hours.

Ensures that notes, files and records are safely stored and preserved as official records of the Court in accordance with the provisions of Government Code Section 69955, and other related statutes.

The Court Reporter Real Time 3% and 8% provides CART and Real-Time services as directed, if applicable.
 
Performs basic legal and office file research to ensure appropriate cases documentation of names, quotations, and similar information; maintains records and prepares basic reports related to work performed.

Performs additional duties as directed by Court Management, including providing back-up reporter coverage for other judicial officers as directed.

Qualifications

All Court Reporter classifications must be certified by the State of California as a Certified Shorthand Reporter or Voice Writer

For Court Reporter Real Time 3% must be able to pass the Courts real-time proficiency test and have capability to provide CART services. For Court Reporter Real Time 8% must be certified by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) as a Certified Real time Reporter (CRR) and have capability to provide CART services.,

Any combination of education, vocational training, or work experience which provides the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed above.   
Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• California statutes relating to court reporting services, CART and ADA; 
• Legal, medical and other technical terminology utilized during the course of court proceedings; 
• Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary and punctuation; 
• Current trends, practices and developments in court reporting, real time and CART technology, and 
• Use, adjustment and minor maintenance of stenographic, voice writing, computer and similar equipment related to work.

Ability to:

• Take verbatim dictation of courtroom and related proceedings, often of a technical nature, at a rate certified to perform the work; 
• Promptly read back the record in open court and prepare transcripts utilizing CAT software in a timely fashion; 
• Maintain accurate records and files of work performed; 
• Adapt to changing court reporting technology; 
• Provide real-time/CART services to assist the hearing-impaired or any other special cases as directed by the Court; 
• Provide real-time reporting as directed by the Court Executive Officer or his/her designee; 
• Maintain confidential information where legal standards so require, and 
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during the course of work, including judges, professional clerical staff, attorneys, and the general public.

Other Requirements: A valid Class C California driver's license may be required to be eligible for consideration for certain assignments.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements: On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time using specialized equipment; intermittently twist to reach equipment or supplies surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; strength to lift files weighing up to 25 pounds; use telephone and computer keyboard on a daily basis.

Process to Apply

PROCESS TO APPLY:

Please apply online at:  http://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/info/jobs

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

The selection procedure will consist of an application with supplemental questionnaire screening and a panel interview process.

Please list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of the application and be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.  You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position.

Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, and knowledge and abilities which relate to the position.  Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be invited to an interview.

The Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma is committed to creating a diverse environment and an open, inclusive culture free from bias. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Accommodation: 

Applicants with a disability who may require special assistance in any step of the selection process should advise Human Resources by emailing humanresources@sonomacourt.org upon submittal of application.