Court Reporting and Recording Certification Requirements
Domain 1: Court reporting and recording certification requirements
This domain tests Michigan's certification framework for court reporters and electronic recorders under MCR 8.108 and the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO). Expect questions on who must hold a credential, how the credential is earned and renewed, and how the authorized recording method affects staffing.
Who must be certified
MCR 8.108 requires each court to provide a court reporter or a recording device for its proceedings. The SCAO certifies the individuals who serve as the court's official reporter or recorder. Two credentials matter on the exam: Certified Court Reporter (CCR), for stenographic reporting, and Certified Electronic Recorder (CER), for audio/digital recording. The credential must match the method actually used. A court may adopt electronic recording, but it must staff the equipment with a certified electronic recorder; the equipment does not certify itself.
How certification is obtained and kept
Applicants file with the SCAO, establish eligibility and good moral character, pay the required fee, and pass the certification examination. The written component covers court rules, legal terminology, transcript format, ethics, and records retention. The practical component tests the applicant's method: accurate transcription at tested dictation speeds for CCR applicants, and proper setup, monitoring, logging, and backup for CER applicants. Certification is not lifetime; the SCAO sets renewal and continuing-education requirements, and a lapsed credential cannot support official recording.
Worked example
A court eliminates its stenographic position and assigns a deputy clerk to run a new digital recording system. Reasoning: the court may use electronic recording, but the person operating it as the official recorder must hold CER certification. The clerk's clerical status does not substitute. The court must either have the clerk certified or assign a certified CER before the system becomes the official record.
Traps
Do not equate a national stenographic certification with Michigan certification; the SCAO credential is state-specific. Do not assume electronic recording avoids certification. Do not treat renewal as automatic; CE and fees are conditions of continued practice. Do not ignore the Board of Review when a certification decision is disputed.