Looking for a job? Know anyone who is? Court reporters are in short supply in Lexington County. Scheduling court sessions has become a struggle across the state. The state once had more than 100 court reporters. Now it has in the mid-to-low 90s. Ginny Jones of the SC Judicial Department said reporters are retiring, fewer enter the field and technical schools are closing training programs. To solve the issue, the state is:

• Actively recruiting and advertising. The court reporter position is posted on

www.governmentjobs.com

• Trying to make the position attractive. Salaries start at $40,000 a year. Reporters typically travel fewer than 50 miles to work. South Carolina is also experimenting with digital recording. In January, the state Supreme Court approved recording devices. Five courtrooms statewide currently use the recorders. That number will rise this year, Jones said. The technology won’t spell the end of court reporting. “It is important to note that we view digital recording as a supplement to court reporting,” Jones said. “It has never replaced an existing court reporter, nor do we intend for it to.” Trained court monitors are required when recorders are used. They have to take note of details that can’t be picked up by the monitor – such as the spelling of speakers’ names. Recorders only make audio files. Court reporters are still needed to convert them to written transcripts. Otherwise, several speakers talking at once would impede accuracy. Court reporters can isolate microphones to determine who is speaking. Despite the available technology, the profession still needs people.