How AI and Digital Reporting Are Undermining Court Reporting – What Every Court Reporter Needs to Know to Protect Their Career

Posted bystenoimperiumPosted inAI and the Legal System, Court ReportingTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The world is rapidly embracing new technologies, and the legal industry is no exception. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital reporting have begun to infiltrate courtrooms and legal offices, promising efficiency and cost savings. But for court reporters, this shift poses a threat to the very core of their profession. As stenographic reporters who have dedicated years honing their craft, many may be wondering: What can I do to protect my career?

The Rise of AI and Digital Reporting

In recent years, AI-driven transcription services and digital reporting technologies have gained popularity. These systems, utilizing automatic speech recognition (ASR) and digital audio recording, are marketed as affordable, fast, and reliable alternatives to the traditional stenographic methods. The idea is simple: replace human court reporters with machines, reducing costs for legal firms and government agencies.

But beneath the surface, these technologies are far from flawless.

AI-based systems may generate transcription quickly, but they often produce a product full of errors, especially in complex legal terminology or fast-paced courtroom dialogue. While proponents of these systems argue that they’re constantly improving, they’re still not perfect. In fact, AI struggles to capture the nuances, tone, and context that a human court reporter—armed with training, skill, and experience—naturally provides.

How This Shift Threatens Court Reporting

For court reporters, the rise of AI and digital reporting signals a troubling future. The push for technological automation in the courtroom is not just about replacing workers but about changing the nature of court reporting itself.

Court reporters know that their job isn’t just about writing down what’s said. They are guardians of the official record—able to capture the exact words, tone, and intentions of the individuals speaking, with the ability to clarify ambiguities. No machine can do this with the precision and understanding of a trained human professional.

However, AI and digital reporting threaten to undermine the legal integrity of the court record. These systems lack human judgment. They fail when handling unclear audio, multiple speakers, overlapping speech, or regional accents. They can’t understand context or provide the professionalism and impartiality that court reporters offer.

What Court Reporters Need to Know

The growing reliance on digital reporting and AI transcription systems isn’t just a passing trend—it’s a movement that could ultimately reshape the legal profession. But this shift doesn’t have to mean the end for court reporters. By understanding the potential risks and taking proactive measures, court reporters can safeguard their careers.

Here are some key actions that every court reporter should take to protect their future:

  1. Embrace Technology—But Stay Ahead
    Court reporters don’t have to reject technology altogether. In fact, many reporters are already using digital tools alongside their stenography machines to streamline workflows. But it’s crucial to remain the expert in the field. Learn how AI and digital reporting work, and understand their limitations. By being tech-savvy, you can better compete and position yourself as a valuable asset in the courtroom.
  2. Advocate for the Profession
    Many attorneys and judges are unaware of the drawbacks of AI-based reporting. Court reporters must advocate for the integrity of the court record and educate others about the limitations of these new technologies. By standing up for the quality and accuracy of stenographic reporting, court reporters can ensure that their craft remains the gold standard.
  3. Focus on Niche Services
    As automation rises, so does the need for specialized services. Court reporters should consider focusing on areas where human expertise is irreplaceable, such as real-time transcription for trials, depositions, and legal proceedings that require extreme precision and speed. By offering niche services, reporters can ensure their value remains essential.
  4. Get Involved in Legal and Legislative Advocacy
    As AI and digital reporting technologies become more embedded in the industry, it’s essential to support legislative efforts that protect the rights of court reporters. Staying involved in legal advocacy groups can help ensure that court reporters’ jobs are safeguarded through regulations and laws that prioritize accuracy, professionalism, and the quality of the official record.
  5. Continue Professional Development
    Just like any other profession, the key to success in court reporting lies in continuous learning. Stay updated with the latest developments in your field, whether it’s new techniques, technology, or legal requirements. By keeping your skills sharp, you’ll be better positioned to adapt to changes and ensure your career remains secure.

Protecting Your Career in a Digital World

The rise of AI and digital reporting should not be seen as a death sentence for court reporters. Instead, it should serve as a wake-up call to stay ahead of the curve. As we move into an era dominated by technology, court reporters must adapt, educate, and advocate. By embracing new technologies while maintaining the human touch, court reporters can protect their careers and continue to thrive in an ever-changing legal landscape.

StenoImperium
Court Reporting. Unfiltered. Unafraid.

Disclaimer

“This article includes analysis and commentary based on observed events, public records, and legal statutes.”

The content of this post is intended for informational and discussion purposes only. All opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are based on publicly available information, industry standards, and good-faith concerns about nonprofit governance and professional ethics. No part of this article is intended to defame, accuse, or misrepresent any individual or organization. Readers are encouraged to verify facts independently and to engage constructively in dialogue about leadership, transparency, and accountability in the court reporting profession.

  • The content on this blog represents the personal opinions, observations, and commentary of the author. It is intended for editorial and journalistic purposes and is protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
  • Nothing here constitutes legal advice. Readers are encouraged to review the facts and form independent conclusions.

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Published by stenoimperium

We exist to facilitate the fortifying of the Stenography profession and ensure its survival for the next hundred years! As court reporters, we've handed the relationship role with our customers, or attorneys, over to the agencies and their sales reps.  This has done a lot of damage to our industry.  It has taken away our ability to have those relationships, the ability to be humanized and valued.  We've become a replaceable commodity. Merely saying we are the “Gold Standard” tells them that we’re the best, but there are alternatives.  Who we are though, is much, much more powerful than that!  We are the Responsible Charge.  “Responsible Charge” means responsibility for the direction, control, supervision, and possession of stenographic & transcription work, as the case may be, to assure that the work product has been critically examined and evaluated for compliance with appropriate professional standards by a licensee in the profession, and by sealing and signing the documents, the professional stenographer accepts responsibility for the stenographic or transcription work, respectively, represented by the documents and that applicable stenographic and professional standards have been met.  This designation exists in other professions, such as engineering, land surveying, public water works, landscape architects, land surveyors, fire preventionists, geologists, architects, and more.  In the case of professional engineers, the engineering association adopted a Responsible Charge position statement that says, “A professional engineer is only considered to be in responsible charge of an engineering work if the professional engineer makes independent professional decisions regarding the engineering work without requiring instruction or approval from another authority and maintains control over those decisions by the professional engineer’s physical presence at the location where the engineering work is performed or by electronic communication with the individual executing the engineering work.” If we were to adopt a Responsible Charge position statement for our industry, we could start with a draft that looks something like this: "A professional court reporter, or stenographer, is only considered to be in responsible charge of court reporting work if the professional court reporter makes independent professional decisions regarding the court reporting work without requiring instruction or approval from another authority and maintains control over those decisions by the professional court reporter’s physical presence at the location where the court reporting work is performed or by electronic communication with the individual executing the court reporting work.” Shared purpose The cornerstone of a strategic narrative is a shared purpose. This shared purpose is the outcome that you and your customer are working toward together. It’s more than a value proposition of what you deliver to them. Or a mission of what you do for the world. It’s the journey that you are on with them. By having a shared purpose, the relationship shifts from consumer to co-creator. In court reporting, our mission is “to bring justice to every litigant in the U.S.”  That purpose is shared by all involved in the litigation process – judges, attorneys, everyone.  Who we are is the Responsible Charge.  How we do that is by Protecting the Record.

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