Few Shorthand Systems Exist before Pitman arrives (1852)
At Trials, Attorneys Made Own Notes,
and Judge’s Notes were the “Official” Record
Reporting First Permitted in Court (Albany, NY)
Importance of Verbatim Reporting spotlighted by:
Lincoln Assassination Trial (1865)
Ku Klux Klan Trial (1866)
President Andrew Johnson Impeachment Hearing (1867)
Both Houses of Congress Hire Reporters of Debates
Congressional Record created by
Thomas Lloyd (First Congressional Reporter)
Pitman and Gregg now in America
12,000 US Students Learning Shorthand
US Stenotype Machines Invented
500 Schools Teaching Gregg Shorthand
200 Verbatim Reporters in the US
Stenotype Reporting Begins
“Judicial” Reporting Grows ~ Opportunities Increase
Verbatim Reporting Becomes Court Standard
Demand for Daily-Copy Trial Transcripts Increases
“Acceptance” of Machine Shorthand Results from
Hourly Transcripts Produced in Lindbergh Trial
15 Million Shorthand Writers in US (by 1948)
Women “Permitted” in Court (New York, c. 1948)
Veterans Flood Reporting Schools
Congress creates position of Court Reporter in federal court
Verbatim Reporting Growth Gains Momentum
Depositions Increase ~Freelance Reporters in Demand
Increased Demand for Reporters in Courts
Enormous Reporting Growth ~ Digital Technology Arrives
1960s – Computerized Transcription (CAT) Begins
1970s – CAT Takes Hold – Realtime Begins
1980s – CAT is Transcription Standard
Realtime Gains Ground ~ Captioning Begins
“Judicial” Reporting Growth Slows
Captioning Flourishes ~ CART used in Classrooms
Realtime Reporting Becoming New Standard
New Careers Defined ~ CART Captioners in Demand
Shortage of Court Reporters in US Projected:
“Demand For Court Reporters Will Exceed Supply Within Five Years
“Increased legal activity and new opportunities will drive demand despite the steady transition of some courts to digital recording. Decreased enrollment and graduation rates for court reporters, combined with significant retirement rates, will create by 2018 a critical shortfall projected to represent nearly 5,500 court reporting positions.
“The Opportunity For New Stenographic Court Reporters Is Substantial Over The Next Five Years And Beyond
“The established, coming shortage of stenographic court reporters presents a one-time, substantial opportunity for those seeking a lucrative career with a secure future. Already, court reporting schools are quickly able to connect their graduates with jobs, a trend that will strengthen as the shortage takes hold over the coming years.“
2013-2014 Court Reporting Industry Outlook Report, by Ducker Worldwide
