A court reporter or stenographic reporter is a person whose occupation is to transcribe spoken or recorded speech into written form, typically using a stenotype or stenographic machine to produce official transcripts of court hearings, depositions and other official proceedings. Court reporters use a shorthand system in order to keep up with the flow of speech so that they do not miss any words. The court reporter is often also a notary public who is authorized to administer oaths to witnesses, and who certifies that her or his transcript of the proceedings is a verbatim account of what was said.
Court reporters are also employed by television producers and stations in order to provide closed captioning of programs for the hearing-impaired.
Court reporters often command earnings which rival those of the attorneys whose speech they transcribe.
