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June 22, 2007
Supreme Court Considers Task Force Report on Certification of Court Reporters

The Supreme Court of Ohio's Task Force on the Certification of Court Reporters today released its report and 17 recommendations for developing a process by which individuals serving as court reporters in Ohio courts would meet certain standards for certification. The report and recommendations have been submitted to the Justices of the Supreme Court for their consideration.

The nine-member task force was created in March 2006 by Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer and was the first time a task force was created for this purpose. The report recommendations reflect the key elements of a certification system envisioned by the task force and are based upon a central objective – to ensure the accuracy and security of the court record. Currently there are no state certification requirements for court reporters.

“In the field of law, in the justice system, where property, freedom and even lives depend on the spoken word, it is imperative that an accurate record is created and produced,” said Judge Mary Donovan, of the 2^nd District Court of Appeals, who was chair of the task force. “These recommendations as proposed by the task force if adopted by the Supreme Court would ensure that any individual responsible for creating and or producing the record complies with established minimal requirements.”

The task force recommendations include:

• The definition of court reporter, divided into five categories: electronic operators, electronic recorders, stenographic reporters, transcriptionists, and verbatim reporters; and recommends that those who fit these classifications be required to obtain certification.
• The creation of a Supreme Court Commission on Court Reporters to oversee the certification of court reporters in the state. The commission would include the Chief Justice or a designee of the Chief Justice and 10 individuals – judges, court reporters and attorneys – appointed by the Supreme Court.
• Required prerequisites to certification, including applicants must be 18 years of age or older, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, be of good moral character, submit to a background check and comply with any additional requirements adopted by the commission.
• Requirement that applicants receive passing scores on an official exam adopted by the commission.
• Proposal that the Supreme Court Commission on Court Reporters should adopt a Code of Ethics and Professionalism governing certified court reporters, as well as regulations establishing a complaint system through which alleged violations could be investigated, prosecuted and adjudicated.

The Ohio Court Reporters Association (OCRA) is in full support of the efforts of the Supreme Court's task force to require certification of all court reporters in Ohio, said commission member Linda Sturm, past president of the Ohio Court Reporters Association.

“Court reporters are responsible for the filing of the verbatim record,” Sturm said. “OCRA agrees with Chief Justice Moyer that court reporters should be held to the same standards as all court personnel involved in this very important process. It is imperative that court reporters not only have the requisite skill and knowledge to perform their tasks, but they also must be able to certify that the transcript has been prepared without the appearance of impropriety or bias toward any party.”

The task force began its work with a review of the regulatory systems from a number of other states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire and Utah.

The task force contends that certification of court reporters will ensure both the spoken word and all evidence are captured and preserved, sending a clear message that each case before the court affecting property and liberty will produce a complete, accurate and secure legal record. But ultimately, certification will increase public confidence in the courts, the report states.

The Justices have accepted the report for consideration and are not required to make a decision about the recommendations within any particular time frame.

The Report and Recommendations of the Supreme Court Task Force on the Certification of Court Reporters can be viewed online at: www.supremecourtofohio.gov/publications.