Court reporter shortage in Oklahoma: What they do and how to become one

In 2018, the state warned that nearly half of Oklahoma's court reporters were eligible to retire, raising the risk of backlogs in criminal, juvenile and civil cases. Since then, education partners have worked to expand the talent pipeline so courts are not forced to delay proceedings.

If you are considering this career and alleviating the shortage, here is what the job involves, how training works in Oklahoma, how certification is earned, and where jobs are.

What do court reporters do?

Court reporters create verbatim records of trials, depositions and other legal proceedings. In a courtroom, they capture every spoken word, mark exhibits and produce a certified transcript used by judges, lawyers and the public.

Outside the court, many reporters provide real-time services for people who