02/10/2026
Sharing this email from Judge O'Shaughnessy in case our Facebook friends know of anyone interested in becoming a court reporter.
Members of the Bench and Bar:
This week (February 7 – 14) marks the nationwide 2026 Court Reporting & Captioning Week, which provides a platform for court reporters and court recording specialists to share with the public, potential students, and members of the legal field, more about the important work they do, roles they serve, and the potential this career path offers.
Judges and attorneys all know (or should know) that the transcript is a critical document before, during, and after a trial. The transcript and its electronic version are used for trial preparation, briefs, impeachment purposes, and, of course, for appellate review. Decisions affecting property and freedom all depend on a clear and accurate record. The brochure Making the Record (found at: making-the-record-booklet.pdf) provides numerous reminders and tips to help you make a clear record. Many of them are common sense, but they are precisely the kinds of things that often are overlooked or forgotten during a trial or a deposition. Please take a moment and review this brochure. Your Official Court Reporters and Court Reporting Specialists would appreciate it!!
The demand for court reporters and court specialists is at an all-time high right now. It can take on average as little as two years to complete a stenographic court reporting program, allowing those who choose this career path the ability for nearly instant employment without the debt of a four-year college degree. Please help spread the word about this rewarding and flexible career option that could be the right fit for those high school grads not interested in college, degree holders who found their original career choice was not what they expected it to be, career changes, and those transitioning from military service. Court reporters and court specialists rely on the latest in technology to capture the spoken word and translate it into written text. These professionals work both in and out of the courtroom recording legal cases and testimony and assisting members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities with gaining access to information.
The National Court Reporters Association A to Z? Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand program, https://www.ncra.org/discoversteno, a free online six-week introductory course, lets participants see if a career in court reporting would be a good choice for them. The program is an introduction to stenographic theory and provides participants with the opportunity to learn the basics of writing on a steno machine. There is no charge to take the course, but participants are required to have access to a steno machine or an iPad on which they may download the iStenoPad app.
Please join us in thanking our Official Court Reporters and Court Reporting Specialists for their professional and dedicated contributions to the court system.
Thomas M. O’Shaughnessy
Circuit Judge, 5th Judicial Circuit of Illinois
Presiding Circuit Judge for Vermilion County
Rita B. Garman Vermilion County Courthouse
7 N. Vermilion Street, Suite 413
Danville, IL 61832
Discover a career that offers you the opportunity to work all over the world or in your own living room. Captioners and court reporters use the latest technology to capture the record for sporting events, trials, television, universities, concerts, and more. NCRA DiscoverSteno® lets you discover a ...
