Saving Court Reporting – It’s About More Than Fighting AI

The legal world has spent years debating artificial intelligence and digital recording in courtrooms. And with good reason. Accuracy, privacy, and accountability are not luxuries; they are the bedrock of justice. Human court reporters remain the gold standard for preserving the record.

But while we fight Silicon Valley’s latest experiment, another crisis is starving our profession from within: the collapse of the education pipeline. Without new blood entering the field, no defense of “the record” will matter—because there will be no one left to keep it.

The Disappearing Schools

Court reporting programs across the country are closing. Community colleges have dropped their degrees, citing low enrollment, high equipment costs, retiring instructors, and budget shortfalls. One school in Sarasota shuttered its program after years of struggling with recruitment. Another, in Wisconsin, closed its department entirely after decades of producing certified reporters.

This is the quiet erosion of our profession. Every time a school closes, dozens—sometimes hundreds—of potential reporters lose the chance to discover a career that could change their lives.

And what has been done to stop it? Not nearly enough. Our leadership has been slow to respond, failing to “triage” schools at risk, failing to rally communities and state legislators, and failing to show deans why court reporting is a workforce program worth saving.

A Lesson from Kusadasi, Turkey

Yesterday, in Kusadasi, Turkey, I heard a story that hit me like a bolt of recognition. Our tour guide explained how the ancient craft of carpet weaving is dying. For centuries, Turkish carpets were prized worldwide, each one a work of art made by hand. But today’s youth no longer want to learn the trade. They want to be doctors, lawyers, teachers—prestigious professions that promise more stability and income.

The government, realizing the cultural treasure at risk, is now offering incentives for students to learn carpet weaving. Because if no one learns the craft, it will vanish forever. Machines can mass-produce rugs, yes, but they cannot reproduce the artistry, precision, and soul of a handmade carpet.

Sound familiar?

Court reporting faces the exact same fate. We are the human craft preserving the truth in our justice system. And unless we recruit and support the next generation, we too will be replaced—not because machines are better, but because no one is left to carry the torch.

Rethinking Standards, Lowering Barriers

Part of the problem is our own pipeline. Some schools demand five perfect passes at 225 words per minute before graduation. Admirable in theory, but how many capable students have been forced out because they couldn’t quite hit that benchmark before their funding or patience ran out?

Many of these students later pass the RPR or state exams in months. The rigid structure of schools may be unintentionally gatekeeping rather than cultivating.

Maybe it’s time to modernize: lower graduation benchmarks to 200 wpm while keeping the professional certification bar at 225+. That way, schools can graduate more students who are on the cusp of readiness while still ensuring professional standards are met.

The focus should be on building reporters, not building attrition statistics.

Recruitment – Who Even Knows We Exist?

Another brutal truth: most young people—and their parents—don’t even know this career exists. Ask a high school student if they’ve heard of court reporting, and you’ll likely get a blank stare. Meanwhile, they’re bombarded with campaigns to become nurses, engineers, or software developers.

We need the same energy. Recruitment must be aggressive, creative, and digital-first. Imagine:

• TikTok series showcasing young reporters hitting six-figure incomes.
• Partnerships with high schools and guidance counselors.
• Loaner equipment and scholarships to reduce upfront costs.
• National mentorship networks linking students with veterans for support.

If we want to fill the seats, we must first make sure students even know the seats exist.

Innovation Isn’t AI—It’s Education

Ironically, the real innovation our profession needs has nothing to do with AI. It’s not about cloud transcription or voice recognition software. It’s about reimagining how we teach, recruit, and retain the next generation.

Innovation looks like:

• Hybrid and online training models for rural students.
• Workforce grants and tuition incentives, the same way governments fund nursing and teaching programs.
• A professional “rescue squad” that steps in the moment a school considers closing, to fight for its survival.
• Public-private partnerships to subsidize equipment and software for students.

This isn’t lowering the bar. It’s lowering the barriers.

The Dual Fight

Yes, we must continue exposing AI’s failures in accuracy, privacy, and accountability. But if that is our only focus, we risk winning the argument and losing the war. Because without reporters entering the pipeline, there will be no one left to take the depositions, cover the hearings, or produce the transcripts that justice depends on.

We must fight on two fronts: against the incursion of unproven technology, and for the preservation of our schools, students, and future workforce.

A Call to Action

The story of Turkish carpets is a cautionary tale: once a craft disappears, it is nearly impossible to bring back. Court reporting is no different. We are not “just typists.” We are custodians of truth.

So here is the call:

• Leadership must treat school closures as a national emergency.
• We must reimagine recruitment and visibility, bringing court reporting into the spotlight for the next generation.
• We must modernize our educational structures to reduce attrition while upholding certification standards.
• Every working reporter must become a mentor, recruiter, and advocate.

Because once our profession is gone, it’s gone for good. And what will be left behind will not be faster, cheaper, or better. It will be weaker, riskier, and less accountable.

Just like the hand-woven carpets of Turkey, our craft is too valuable to lose. The time to fight for it is now.

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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