A person pretending to be a certified shorthand reporter/stenographer/court reporter. They have no education, skills, or abilities to
type. They are not qualified to
even scope a transcript. They push a
button to record what is going on in the room. All attorneys and witnesses think this person is qualified because they pretend to be. They are not qualified to do anything. They cannot read back. They cannot produce a transcript. They cannot type. After the legal proceedings, they outsource the audio tape to India or
China and have someone whose second or third language is actually
English to transcribe it. However, because they are secretly fooling everyone, they charge the price of an educated, accurate,
real shorthand reporter. It is very much questionable whether the transcripts produced are legally certified and can be used to impeach witnesses at trial.
Excuse me, Miss Reporter. I didn’t hear that answer. Can you
please read that back?
No, Counsel. I cannot read that back. I am an deposition officer. I can push play on the audio. I have secretly been recording. I’m not actually typing any of this. I’m charging you the same price as though I’m typing, but I’m not. I am merely recording it and making sure the recording is clear so I can send it to someone whose first language is not
even English to do the rest for me