MI Court Reporter cheat sheet

Michigan court reporters are regulated under the Michigan Court Reporting and Recording Board of Review, administered through the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO); certification is required to take the certified shorthand reporter (CSR) exam.

Certified shorthand reporter (CSR) applicants must be at least 18 years old, of good moral character, and hold a high school diploma or equivalent before sitting for the examination.

The CSR examination has three parts: a written knowledge test on court reporting rules and ethics, a dictation/transcription speed test, and a transcription accuracy component; all parts must be passed.

The speed requirement for Michigan CSR certification is 225 words per minute for testimony (question-and-answer) and 200 words per minute for literary/jury charge material, with a minimum accuracy standard of 97 percent on transcription.

A candidate who fails any part of the CSR exam may retake that part; passing scores on individual sections are typically retained for a limited period, so candidates should confirm current retake rules with the Board.

Certification renewal requires continuing education; Michigan certified shorthand reporters must complete continuing legal education/court reporting education hours during each renewal cycle as set by the Board.

Reciprocity: reporters certified in another state may qualify for Michigan certification without re-examination if their state's standards are substantially equivalent, subject to Board approval.

Grounds for denial or discipline of a certification include fraud in the application, conviction of a felony, and unprofessional conduct; the Board may suspend or revoke certification after notice and hearing.

Electronic recording (audio) may be used in some Michigan courts, but only a certified shorthand reporter may produce an official transcript from a record in courts requiring certified reporting.

A certified shorthand reporter must take an oath to faithfully and impartially transcribe proceedings; the oath is part of certification and applies to every proceeding reported.

Reporters must produce a verbatim record, including all spoken words, and must note non-verbal events (e.g., exhibits marked, objections, off-record discussions) in the transcript.

Transcripts must be certified by the reporter as a true and correct transcription; the certificate includes the reporter's name, certification number, and date.

Confidentiality: reporters may not disclose the content of proceedings or transcripts except as authorized by law, court order, or the parties; breach is grounds for Board discipline.

Conflicts of interest: a reporter may not report a proceeding in which the reporter or a family member is a party, counsel, or witness, and must disclose any relationship that could affect impartiality.

The Board of Review receives and investigates complaints against certified reporters, holds hearings, and may impose sanctions ranging from reprimand to revocation of certification.

Due process in Board proceedings: the reporter must receive written notice of charges, an opportunity to respond, and a hearing before sanctions are imposed; decisions may be appealed.

Transcript production standards: transcripts must be delivered within the time set by court rule or the ordering party's agreement, and the reporter must retain notes/recordings for the retention period required by the Board.

A reporter must not alter a transcript after certification except by a properly documented correction, with notice to the court and parties.