Court Reporter

Please ensure that you fill out this DPS criminal background check permission form (you must open this in internet explorer to digitally sign). All that is needed is your name, signature, and the date.  You will need to attach this to your application. CRIMINAL CHECKS CAN NOT BE RUN WITHOUT THIS FORM AND YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE.

Provides court reporting services for hearings and proceedings; transcribes records of court hearings for judges and attorneys; and performs other duties as necessary.

Attend all sessions of the court;

Take full notes of oral testimony offered before the court, including objections made to the admissibility of evidence, court rulings and remarks on the objections, and exceptions to the rulings;

Take full notes of closing arguments, court rulings and remarks on the objections, and exceptions to the rulings;

Preserve the notes for future reference for three years in civil cases and 15 years in criminal cases from the date on which they were taken;

Furnish a transcript of the reported evidence or other proceedings, in whole or in part, as provided by Chapter 52;

An official court reporter of a district court may conduct the deposition of witnesses, receive and make a certificate of the proceedings anywhere in the State of Texas;

The Supreme Court may adopt rules consistent with the relevant statutes to provide for the duties and fees of official court reporters in all civil judicial proceedings.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
As stated in Government Code – Chapter 52 §52.021 – Certification of Reporters
A person may not be appointed an official court reporter or a deputy court reporter unless the person is certified as a shorthand reporter by the Supreme Court. A certification issued under this chapter must be for one or more of the following methods of shorthand reporting: 1.) written shorthand, 2.) machine shorthand, 3.) oral stenography or 4.) any other method of shorthand reporting authorize by the Supreme Court.

Certified shorthand reporter by the Office of Court Administration of the State of Texas.
Certified Shorthand Reporter by the Office of Court Administration, Judicial Branch Certification Commission.

Judicial proceedings; court reporting procedures; and standard office practices and procedures.
 
Operate stenography machine; transcribe shorthand notation into regular records of court proceedings; operate office equipment, such as copy machine and facsimile machine; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; and maintain effective working relationships with judges, courtroom personnel, attorneys, and the public.