What are the responsibilities and job description for the Digital Court Reporter (Lee County) position at Florida State Courts, Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Administrative Office of the Courts?
*This position is eligible for a Competitive Area Differential (CAD) as approved by the Florida State Court System up to $2,367.96 annually.
WHY SHOULD YOU APPLY TO THE AOC?
- Great working environment
- Growth and Development Opportunities
- Medical, Dental, Vision other supplemental insurances offered
- Sick Vacation Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Retirement plan options (Pension or Investment)
- 457 Deferred Compensation
- Tuition Assistance
- Employee Assistance Program
The position of Digital Court Reporter performs responsible work throughout the five counties of the circuit related to capturing and maintaining an audio verbatim record of court proceedings. This position operates electronic recording systems to record court proceedings while the DCR annotates the record. The position is responsible for proper archiving and accessing of an electronic copy of a court proceeding. This position also performs duties related to maintaining and storing court recordings, responding to requests for court recordings, and other related duties, as assigned, and as such, excellent operational knowledge of a personal computer and Microsoft Office products is required. The position is required to maintain a professional demeanor at all times and to establish effective working relationships with co-workers, judges, court personnel, Offices of the Clerks of the Court, Office of the State Attorney, Public Defender’s Office, other state agencies, members of the bar, and the general public. Work is performed under the direction of the Court Reporting Services Manager.
Primary responsibilities of a Digital Court Reporter include the following:
(1) Capture, maintain and annotate the record of court proceedings
(2) Produce media requests
(3) Prepare and maintain logs and statistics
(4) Perform other duties as assigned
Primary responsibilities of a Digital Court Reporter include the following:
(1) Capture, maintain and annotate the record of court proceedings
(2) Produce media requests
(3) Prepare and maintain logs and statistics
(4) Perform other duties as assigned
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.
(1) Capture and Maintain the Record of Court Proceedings
(2) Produce Media Requests
(4) Perform Other Duties as Assigned
The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.
(1) Capture and Maintain the Record of Court Proceedings
- Organize and prioritize the daily court schedule in accordance with statutes, court rules, administrative orders, and operational policies
- Ensure that all recording equipment is tested and in proper working order prior to the beginning of court sessions. Coordinate equipment repairs if needed
- Set up laptop computers and microphones as necessary, archiving files daily at the end of court sessions
- Record and monitor, as assigned, all court proceedings required to be recorded, using electronic court recording equipment and stand-alone laptop computers
- Accurately annotate proceedings with essential case information
- Perform playback of proceedings in courtrooms when requested
- File DVDs correctly in secure vault to ensure timely access
- Backup co-workers as assigned
- Travel to courts throughout the Circuit for coverage or training as assigned
- Work overtime, as may be necessary, to cover assign court proceedings
- Work weekend duty on a rotating basis
(2) Produce Media Requests
- Maintain file log sheets or database for all assigned recordings and assignments, maintaining information in a logical order.
- Receive and log media requests into database
- Reproduce recordings by burning CDs correctly, labeling, and ensuring functionality of each media request
- Distribute media requests in an efficient and timely manner, and in accordance with statutes, court rules, administrative orders, and operational policies
- Gather and provide accurate information
- Accurately prepare and maintain logs for laptop archiving, media requests, schedules, and dockets
- Maintain situation logs for equipment
- Prepare monthly statistics report in a timely manner
(4) Perform Other Duties as Assigned
- Follow and interpret manuals and instructions
- Excellent operational knowledge of a personal computer and Microsoft Office products is essential as correspondence and logs are prepared and maintained in this medium
- Troubleshoot recording equipment problems and failures
- Additional duties including, but not limited to: answering the telephone, sending and receiving e-mail, processing mail, faxing documents, preparing documents, reports, and time sheets, performing data entry, preparing and monitoring bills, and ordering of department’s office supplies
- Follow proper courtroom confidentiality and etiquette, including, but not limited to, impartiality to parties, and exhibit professional demeanor and dress at all times, and comply with Administrative Orders and Court Administration Policies related to court proceedings and court recording functions
- Adhere to all Administrative Office of the Courts Personnel Regulations
- Perform other related duties as assigned
Typical Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONSTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Knowledge of:
- Fundamentals of court proceedings, documents, and rules related to capturing a verbatim court record
- Accurately perform tagging of recorded court proceedings, which reduces the spoken word into a verbatim written record at a high rate of speed and in proper format
- English grammar, punctuation, spelling, court procedures and legal terminology
- Computer applications, including but not limited to: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel
- Use and maintenance of electronic recording and equipment
- Knowledgeable and capable of navigating and utilizing the Windows and internet environment to be able to maneuver and utilize various windows and applications simultaneously
- Working knowledge of court system, courtroom procedures, legal documents, and legal terminology.
- Verify the electronic recording equipment is working properly prior to the start of court proceedings and to perform routine, simple maintenance
- Organize work effectively and meet required deadlines and follow schedules
- Sit in one place and maintain high level of concentration for long periods of time and in close proximity to co-workers
- Be self-motivated, efficiently organize work under pressure, exercise discretion, and maintain confidentiality
- Provide effective, accurate, professional, polite, friendly, and prompt customer service to the public and other agency personnel, AOC employees, and the Judiciary
- Maintain consistent and regular attendance, which is required
- Proofread carefully and accurately
- Utilize various software programs including but not limited to: Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel
- Lift up to 25 pounds
- Travel circuit-wide when necessary for coverage and/or training
- Work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays
- Work overtime, as may be necessary, to cover assign court proceedings
- Accurately type 40 words per minute, minimum, without errors
Supplemental Information
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE- Graduation from a standard high school or GED equivalent and one year of college or vocational school with education in office skills, computer operation, or closely related field. Relevant experience may substitute for the recommended education on a year-for-year basis.
- Two years of related professional experience working in the legal field or as a court stenographer or closely related stenographic work. Relevant education may substitute for the recommended experience on a year-for-year basis
A valid Florida Driver’s License with an acceptable driving record is required.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None
Other Necessary Requirements
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read and interpret documents, instructions, and manuals. Ability to read, write and analyze reports and business correspondence and manuals. Ability to effectively communicate information both verbally and in writing, and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, spelling and legal terminology.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY
Must be able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Must be able to evaluate problems, isolate key issues, research and develop alternative solutions and to present management with recommendations that include, at a minimum, the advantages, the disadvantages, and the cost and staff impact of recommendations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, talk, see, and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit for extended periods of time, retrieve files, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to handle or feel; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus. The employee must have ability to drive an automobile.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The noise level for this position is moderate.
EQUIPMENT UTILIZED
Automobile, personal computer and keyboard, headphones, copy machine, fax machine, printer, shredder, multi-line telephone, electronic recording and monitoring, DVD player.
This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person or persons authorized to give instructions or assignments. The AOC reserves the right to modify, change, evolve, add, or eliminate position duties and/or positions if deemed appropriate for budget, operational, or other determining factors as determined by the Chief Judge and/or Court Administrator.
This position description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of essential job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities.
Employees of the State Courts System, which includes Court Administration employees, are at-will employees. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and may be revised or rescinded at any time, due to operational necessity, at the sole discretion of the Court Administrator and or Chief Judge.
This position description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of essential job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills and abilities.
Employees of the State Courts System, which includes Court Administration employees, are at-will employees. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and may be revised or rescinded at any time, due to operational necessity, at the sole discretion of the Court Administrator and or Chief Judge.