Walking into a deposition or courtroom as a court reporter feels like stepping onto a battlefield. Each day, you don your gear, prepare your mind, and enter a war zone. But here’s the thing—most of the time, you don’t know what kind of war you’re walking into. Sometimes, it’s a skirmish on the outskirts. Other times, it’s a full-scale clash, and you’re right in the heart of the fray. Occasionally, you enter a cold war where both sides are biding their time, and other times, you’re walking into a room where the battle has already been fought and is just winding down, the final pieces being put into place. Each day is different, and no two cases are alike. But regardless of the intensity, one thing remains constant: you’re there to do a job that holds more weight than you might realize.
The Battlefield: The Deposition or Courtroom
On the surface, it might look like just another meeting, a routine exchange of words between two attorneys. But in reality, every deposition or trial is a potential war. The stakes may be high or low, but the tension is always palpable. Lawyers are armed with their questions, witnesses with their testimonies, and opposing sides with their objections. The moment you step into that room, you’re not just observing—you’re in the thick of it. But unlike the participants, who are there to argue and sway the jury or judge, you are there to protect the record.
As a court reporter, you are essentially a silent witness to the whole affair. You are present in the room, but not a part of the drama. Yet, in that silence, you are crucial. You are the keeper of the record, the one who ensures that every word spoken, every nuance, every bit of evidence is preserved. Without you, all the efforts of the attorneys and witnesses would be in vain. The record wouldn’t exist, and without a record, there can be no appeal. If there’s one thing every attorney knows, it’s that without the record, they have no case.
The Role of the Court Reporter in the War
The fact is, court reporters are like the unseen soldiers in a war—silent, steady, and always present. But much like soldiers, the importance of your role is often overlooked until the battle is over. You’re there to make sure everything is captured accurately and verbatim. And trust me, that is no small task.
You can be present for the most mundane discussions or the fiercest exchanges. But whether the room is quiet or charged with tension, your job doesn’t change. You don’t take sides. You don’t participate in the arguments. Your sole mission is to preserve the record.
It’s easy to feel like you’re just a fly on the wall, an insignificant figure in a room full of sharp minds trying to outwit one another. But in truth, that’s far from reality. Without you, the entire structure of the legal process crumbles. The opposing attorneys may argue until they’re blue in the face, but the record you create will outlast their words.
Understanding the Tactics: The Use of Court Reporters as “Weapons”
Sometimes, in the heat of battle, attorneys will turn to you in a way that feels like a tactical move. They don’t directly address you, but they may try to manipulate the situation with their tone, the way they direct questions, or how they behave toward you. They might use you to intimidate the other side. Perhaps they will pause dramatically before speaking, as if to draw attention to every word, knowing you’re capturing it all. Or maybe they’ll go out of their way to be extra polite, knowing that it will reflect well when it’s time to argue their case later.
This can sometimes feel uncomfortable, like you’re caught in the middle of a chess match where you’re just the pawn. But here’s the thing—you’re not supposed to get rattled. The attorneys might be playing games, but you cannot afford to let them distract you from your job. You cannot let their tactics cause you to falter. As much as the room might feel tense, your job is to stay calm, focused, and diligent. They’re not aiming their guns at you, after all. In a strange way, you’re the one neutralizing the battle by doing your job with precision.
But sometimes, attorneys will show you kindness. And while that might feel like a moment of camaraderie, it’s also a subtle weapon in their arsenal. Lawyers know that showing too much kindness or respect to a court reporter might make them appear weak to the other side. It’s a balancing act: too much kindness, and they risk showing vulnerability. Too much coldness, and they risk appearing unprofessional. It’s a delicate dance, and you are the center of that performance.
The Court Reporter’s Ego: A Lesson in Humility
Over time, I’ve learned one very important lesson: You have to get over yourself. I say this with the utmost respect, because I too had to come to terms with it, but the reality is this: you are not the star of the show.
Court reporters, myself included, can sometimes fall into the trap of thinking we are somehow central to the case. After all, we’re capturing every word, every moment, on our steno machines or voice masks. Without us, the whole case could fall apart. And that’s true. But here’s where the ego check comes in: the truth is, we are both important and utterly irrelevant at the same time.
We are important because we preserve the record. But outside of that, we are essentially replaceable. There are other court reporters out there, and they are just as capable as we are of capturing the words, the moments, the nuances. If we let our egos inflate, we risk losing sight of what truly matters. Our job isn’t about being noticed. It’s about making sure the record is perfect.
I’ve learned to appreciate this balance. In a courtroom, I am everything in that moment, and yet, I am invisible. This duality is humbling, and it’s something that has taken time to fully grasp. But once you internalize it, you realize that the ego doesn’t serve you in the long run. When you let go of the need for validation or recognition, you become a better court reporter.
Protecting the Record: The True Power of the Court Reporter
At the end of the day, we are the ones who protect the record. And in doing so, we protect the potential for appeal. If things go wrong, if the case turns sour for one side or the other, they will always have the opportunity to go back to the record you’ve created.
Without us, their ability to appeal is reduced to nothing. If a party loses and the record is incomplete or inaccurate, that loss becomes final. But when the record is preserved and solid, no matter what happens in the battle, there’s always a chance for a new fight to take place.
And that, in essence, is what makes us so crucial. We might not be fighting the battle directly, but our role in the war is invaluable. Without us, the fight would be meaningless. And without us, the outcome is inevitable.
In the end, every deposition, every trial is a war. But we are the silent soldiers who ensure that when the dust settles, the record stands, and the possibility of a future battle remains. So when you walk into that war zone, remember: stay calm, stay focused, and understand the weight of your role. You’re not just there to report every word —you’re there to protect the future of the case itself.
STENOIMPERIUM 