Glossary
Court reporter
A trained professional who creates a verbatim written record of what's said during court proceedings, typically using a special stenotype machine. Their transcript becomes part of the official record.
Court reporters capture every word spoken: by the judge, lawyers, witnesses, and parties. Their transcripts are essential for appeals, since an appellate court can only review what's in the written record.
Not every hearing has a court reporter. Routine status conferences and procedural hearings often aren't transcribed unless one of the parties pays for it. Trials and major hearings almost always have one.
Court reporters also handle depositions outside court: out-of-court sworn questioning that's part of the discovery process.