Official Court Reporter

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California is seeking a skilled and motivated Official Court Reporter to join our team. This position may be based in San Francisco, San Jose, or Oakland. Our reporters support a fast-paced and collaborative environment, covering both in-person and remote (Zoom) proceedings across the district. As one of the busiest and most high-profile federal courts in the country, we handle a wide range of complex and groundbreaking cases. From intellectual property, biotech litigation, Silicon Valley technology, high-stakes criminal cases and civil rights matters, our court reporters are essential to the federal judiciary.

We offer a competitive salary along with full federal benefits, and new reporters are immediately included in the courts trial rotation. The position offers exceptional earning potential as well. In 2024, in-person court reporters earned between $98,000 and $194,000 in transcript fees alone. If you’re looking to elevate your career while contributing to the work that matters, we invite you to apply today!

Court reporters are key members of the judicial team, working closely with judges, attorneys, and fellow reporters to ensure accurate and timely transcripts of court proceedings. This dynamic role offers a blend of in-person collaboration and substantial telework flexibility. Some travel across our San Francisco, San Jose or Oakland courthouses are expected.

Being an official court reporter involves:

• Working as part of a team of reporters for the judges of the court.
• Verbatim shorthand reporting of courtroom proceedings and reading back portions of the record when required.
• Producing transcripts at a high volume, including expedited and daily transcripts.
• For certain criminal proceedings, creating audio recordings alongside shorthand notes.
• Adhering to the policies and administrative procedures outlined in the Court Reporter Management Plan, the Court Reporter Manual, and the Guide to Judiciary Policy.
• Performing administrative tasks including transcripts billing, and docketing financial tracking, responding to request, and submitting required reports to the Administrative Office.

• Level 1 ($118,149) must have at least one year of court reporting experience (freelance, courts or a combination); RPR (or equivalent); and excellent Realtime skills. (Those hired without Realtime certification must pass the test within two years.)
• Level 2 ($124,057) additionally requires Registered Merit Reporter (RMR) certification and ability to provide Realtime writing in the courtroom (must become Realtime certified within two years of hire date).
• Level 3 ($129,965) additionally requires Realtime certification.
• Level 4 ($135,871) additionally requires Realtime and RMR certification.
• Level 5 ($141,778) for transferring Federal Official Court Reporters appointed before October 11, 2009, with CRR or FCRR, RMR and ten years’ reporting experience in the federal courts.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three or more years of court reporting experience (freelance, courts or a combination) and experience directly invoicing clients 
• Experience e-filing transcripts on a court docket  
• Previous federal court experience 
• Realtime Certification
• Certificate of Merit from NCRA

Physical Requirements: Successful candidate must be able to (with or without accommodation): (1) bend, (2) pull, push, and lift up to 20 pounds, (3) reach, (4) walk, and (5) sit for extended periods.

The successful candidate for this position is subject to an FBI fingerprint check and background investigation (employment will be provisional and contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the required background investigation), will be required to adhere to a code of conduct (available upon request) and is subject to mandatory direct deposit of federal wages. The court is not authorized to reimburse travel expenses for interviews or relocations. 

Non-citizens may be interviewed and considered for employment, but employment offers will only be made to individuals who qualify under one of the exceptions in 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3)(B). In most cases, this means that an offer of employment cannot be made unless the candidate is a lawful permanent resident who is seeking U.S. citizenship. 

We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion in our workplace. The court encourages applications from all qualified individuals and seeks a diverse pool of applicants in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, disability, religion, and socio-economic circumstance.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please notify the Human Resources Unit at 415-522-2147. Determinations on such requests will be made on a case-by-case basis.