Court Reporter

Court Reporter

The Superior Court of California, County of Monterey is offering a comprehensive benefits program. The below benefits summary is based on a full-time position benefits may be prorated for part-time positions:

• Vacation: Accrues at the rate of 3.7 hours per 80 hours earned in a biweekly pay period. The accrual rate increases after 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service.
• Holidays: 14 days a year.
• Sick Leave: Provides salary continuation for absence due to illness and is earned at the rate of 3.08 hours per 80 hours earned in a biweekly pay period.
• Bereavement Leave: Up to 3 days of paid leave.
• Educational Leave: Two 8-hour days per calendar year.
• Education Reimbursement: Up to $1,000 per year.
• Medical Insurance: employee and dependent coverage available.
• Dental Insurance: employee and dependent coverage available.
• Vision Care Insurance: employee and dependent coverage available.
• Life Insurance: $50,000 life insurance policy.
• Deferred Compensation: A voluntary deferred compensation program is available.
• Retirement: Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Employer and Employee (based on percentage of pay) contributes into CalPERS

This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits and wages listed in the Court Personnel Policies or applicable MOU prevail over this listing.

Description

Under direction, the official court reporter is responsible for the verbatim official record; provides readback upon request; prepares certified transcripts of the proceedings; and performs other related duties.

Employment Standards/Typical Qualifications: Certification by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Certified Shorthand Reporters Board is required. Incumbents provide and maintain the necessary equipment for the transcription of court proceedings. A valid California Driver's license may be required. Employees in this classification may be required to use their own vehicle to travel between facilities. Court Reporter Realtime skills and/or certification are desirable. A pay differential is available for Realtime services.

Examples of Duties

Positions in this class may perform any or all of the below listed duties. These should be interpreted as examples of the work, and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

1. Primary work is to attend court sessions as assigned and make verbatim stenographic records of the proceedings.
2. Provide immediate readback of all or portions of the court proceedings upon instruction of the judge.
3. Prepare printed, electronic or digital media transcripts of court proceedings.
4. Review and certify transcripts for accuracy, and files transcripts of court proceedings as required by statutes and as ordered by the Court.
5. Prioritize requests for transcripts in order to meet legal timelines.
6. Maintain a variety of electronic and paper files of the court record for which the reporter is directly responsible, prepares daily transcripts as needed, and provides transcripts of proceedings on request of parties or by order of the court.
7. Serve as a relief or floater reporter when needed in any court location.
8. Upload court reporter notes monthly to the "Court Reporter notes archival system."
9. Perform related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Examples of Experience and Training

Knowledge and Abilities Any combination of education, training and/or experience which substantially demonstrates the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

1. Knowledge of: California Law, Rules of Court, court forms and procedures that relate to court reporting services.
2. Proper English usage, spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation.
3. Courtroom practices and procedures.
4. Legal terminology, basic medical and other specialized and technical terminology required for court proceedings and protocol.
5. Computer equipment and data processing programs.

Ability to:

1. Hear and distinguish words spoken in varying tones and volumes.
2. Use Computer-Aided Transcription (CAT).
3. Record verbatim testimony at a rate certified to perform the work.
4. Provide read back of all or portions of the record instantaneously upon request as may be required in examination of witnesses or request of the jury.
5. Promptly prepare transcripts of proceedings when appropriate and certify the final transcript.
6. Safely maintain the files and notes of the court record for which court reporters are responsible.
7. Work independently with minimum supervision.
8. Handle more than one task simultaneously, while maintaining a sense of direction.
9. Maintain attention to detail; organize and prioritize work and meet critical time deadlines.
10. Maintain confidential information where legal standards so require.
11. Type accurately and operate a personal computer and other types of office equipment.
12. Use, adjust, move and perform minor maintenance of stenographic and similar equipment related to work.
13. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
14. Provide excellent customer service; establish and maintain effective work relationships with judges, judicial officers, professional and clerical staff, attorneys, and the general public.
15. Be available and have reliable ways to be contacted when needed on assignment in other locations.
16. Keep equipment readily available and be prepared to go to another assignment in a different department or location as needed in little advance notice.

The knowledge and skills listed above may be acquired through various types of experience, education, or training, typically: Education: Equivalent to graduation from the twelfth grade (high school) or GED. AND License: Possess and maintain a license as a Certified Shorthand Reporter or a license as a voice writer issued by the State of California.

Other Information

Other Requirements

1. During the hours court is open for transaction of judicial business, incumbents shall not engage in, or solicit to engage in any other employment in their professional capacity. Other transcriptions not mandatory by statute must be done on own time outside of work hours. The incumbent primary duties are to attend court and transcribe transcripts that are mandatory by statute and/or ordered by the court.
2. Incumbents provide, move/handle and maintain their own equipment and cover the costs of transcribing the record in return for a fee set by statute.

Required Conditions of Employment As a condition of employment, the incumbent will be required to:

1. To possess and maintain an active, valid certified Shorthand Reporter license issued by the State of California.
2. Successfully pass a background investigation.
3. Possess a valid current California class C license, (or) the employee must be able to provide suitable transportation approved by the hiring authority.
4. Applicants must have a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness. Convictions, depending upon the type, number and date, may be disqualifying.
5. Work history: False statements or omission of facts regarding background or employment history may result in disqualification or dismissal.
6. Incumbent provides and maintains, at own expense, all necessary equipment and materials to produce verbatim record, pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 10.810(b) (8) 810.
7. Incumbent is prohibited from holding any outside employment which conflicts with providing services to the court.

Physical and Sensory Requirements The physical and sensory abilities required for this classification include: Ability to:

1. Sit at a desk and/or in front of a stenographic machine or computer video display terminal for extended periods of time.
2. Hear well enough to understand faint conversation.
3. Incumbent may be exposed to volatile courtroom situations, unpleasant odors, and/or distasteful evidence.
4. Twist and bend your neck while sitting at a desk in front of a stenographic machine.