Great tips from the Harris County Court Reporters! I interviewed 12 of some of the best court reporters working the Harris County Criminal Courts and got their “inside information” on how jurors, lawyers, witnesses and judges can improve in trial to make it easier for the court reporter to take down ALL the information required of them.
Carrie Logan – Featured week of December 30, 2019
The Court Reporter has one of the most difficult jobs in the courthouse. Imagine having to listen to EVERY single word in a trial and transcribing it! My hats-off to you! I will try to feature a court reporter each week and offer their tips on how we can make their job a little easier
Carrie Logan has been a court reporter for 34 years – almost entirely in felony criminal courts. She worked for judge George Godwin in the 174th for eight years and with judge Susan Brown in the 185th for 20 years. Currently she is in the 185th for about half the year as a contract employee and substituting in impact and capital courts when her schedule allows.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
Numbers were clarified for the record. For example, Check 522 for $5.22 on 5-22 are all opportunities to confuse the reader and the listener. It’s so helpful to reinforce what the number actually is referencing by stating “Check No. 522, dated May 22, for the amount of five dollars and twenty-two cents.” When speaking of currency, it is helpful to clearly state the dollar amount such as “five dollars and twenty-two cents” OR “five hundred twenty-two dollars.” Although it’s common vernacular to state five twenty-two and context can usually clear it up, it makes for clearer listening and reading.
Katelyn Harrelson – Featured week of October 14, 2019
Katelyn Harrelson has been a court reporter since 2013. She substituted as a court reporter in all the courts until 2015 when she landed a permanent job in County Criminal Court at Law Number 6. After judge Standley retired she was retained by newly elected judge Kelley Andrews.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
Lawyers would remember that the “RECORD” – unlike jurors – cannot “SEE” – it can only “HEAR”. Act like you are on the radio talking to an audience. The audience cannot see so you must explain in words what is happening. So when you hand over a piece of paper to a witness – say what it is for the record! When a witness points to a part of their face that got it or to something on a blackboard – say where they got hit or what they pointed to for the record! When a witness is demonstrating something for the jury your radio audience can’t see it so say – in words – what the witness is doing, action-by-action for the record.
Whoever reads your record later was NOT in the courtroom. Painting a clearer picture of what was happening makes it much easier for your reader (most likely appellate court) to understand what was going on in the courtroom. It also helps me when editing the transcript. Thank you in advance!
Linda Hacker – Featured week of October 7, 2019
Linda Hacker has been a court reporter since 1990. She worked freelance until 1994 then from 1994 to 2000 she worked as a substitute for the courts. In 2000 she landed a job as court reporter for the 339th then in 2009 as a court reporter for the 177th. She is currently the court reporter in the 177th – judge Robert Johnson presiding.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
I know other court reporters have said this and I would like to reiterate – PLEASE slow down AND do not talk over each other! We CANNOT take down your words when two people are talking at the same time or talking too fast. Thank you in advance!
Rachel Cochran – Featured week of September 30, 2019
Rachel Cochran has been a court reporter since 2013. She spent 5 years as the court reporter for the 313th juvenile court before becoming the court reporter in January for County Criminal Court at Law Number 4 – judge Shannon Baldwin presiding.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
Lawyers would remember that we have a microphone attached at the bench in order to hear your bench conversations. Please be careful when passing papers or other items to the judge! If those papers or items HITS the microphone the amplified sound hurts our ears. Thank you!
Karen Hendricks – Featured week of September 23, 2019
Karen Hendricks has been a court reporter since 2011. She spent 4 years doing freelance then became the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for 4 years. Since January 2019 she has been the court reporter for the 228th Criminal District Court – judge Frank Aguilar presiding.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
We could educate JURORS BEFORE they enter the courtroom on “how to be a good juror during voir dire.” Perhaps give them handouts in the hall while they wait to come into the courtroom. Tips – speak up, say your juror number before speaking, don’t talk at same time as lawyer, etc.
Amanda Fazio – Featured week of September 16, 2019
Amanda Fazio has been a court reporter since 2008. She has spent her entire career assigned to the Harris County criminal courts. She has worked in five criminal courts during the last 11 years and is currently the court reporter in the 209th District Court – judge Brian Warren presiding.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
After a witness answers a question – TAKE A BREATH – and let the answer sink in to the jury! It is difficult to comprehend everything said with running questions and answers. Also, PLEASE give the CITE along with the Case Style when quoting case law to the court, otherwise I have to spend time looking it up.
Ramona Sonnier – Featured week of September 9, 2019
Ramona Sonnier has been a court reporter since 1999. She worked freelance for 4 years in all types of Harris County courts – including criminal, civil, juvenile, and family. In 2003 she got a permanent position with County Criminal Court at Law Number 5 under judge Margaret Harris and is now in the same court with judge David Fleischer presiding – which began January of this year.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
The witnesses were coached better before taking the stand. Let’s give ALL witnesses before they testify a “Witness Stand Tips” pamphlet that explains basic things such as: 1) speak loudly, slowly and clearly, 2) don’t speak until the lawyer has stopped speaking, 3) only answer the question posed to you – don’t elaborate 4) the court reporter can only take down what one person says at a time, so don’t interrupt, 5) Don’t talk when a lawyer makes an objection until the judge tells you, etc.
TIFFANI JUNE-YEATES – Featured September 3, 2019
Tiffani June-Yeates has been a court reporter since 1998. She worked freelance for 15 or those 21 years while raising 3 children. For the last 6 years she has been a full-time court reporter for the county criminal courts including her current assignment as court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 2 – Judge Ronnisha Bowman presiding – which began January of this year.
COURT REPORTER TIP
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..” –
READING DOCUMENTS INTO THE RECORD:
Attorneys seem to launch into overdrive when asked to read something from a written document. It’s not really the speed that is the problem, it is that people talk so fast that they don’t speak clearly.
Don’t mumble. Slow down and enunciate those words! Believe me, if I cannot hear or understand you, the jury cannot either.
ALSO, If you are going to be reading from a document and the Court and other side has a copy, please provide a copy to the court reporter.
LEAH LEAL – Featured August 26, 2019
Leah Leal has been a court reporter since 2014. She has worked her entire career in the criminal court system starting with County Criminal Court at Law Number 10 – Judge Dan Spjut – and more recently as the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 13 – judge Raul Rodriguez presiding – since January of this year.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..
During voir dire both the Prosecutors and Defense Attorneys made sure to identify each prospective juror by either calling out their NUMBER or having the juror say their NUMBER before speaking.
KRISTA HALL – Featured August 19, 2019
Krista Hall has been a court reporter since 1995. She worked free-lance for about 12 years then worked the civil courts, CPS and misdemeanor courts. She was with Judge Derbyshire until she landed her spot with Judge Sedrick Walker – County Criminal Court at Law Number 11. She has been with Judge Walker for eight months.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
The lawyers would speak more confidently with the jurors during voir dire. Sometime lawyers trail off while speaking and I can’t hear what they are saying.
JENNIFER SLESSINGER – Featured August 12, 2019
Jennifer Slessinger has been a court reporter since 1975. She worked in the criminal courts for 37 years and the family courts for 7 years. She is now the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 8 – judge Franklin Bynum presiding. She has been with Judge Bynum for eight months.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
The lawyers would give me a blueprint of the trial – meaning a list of all the witnesses with correct spelling of their names and all the exhibits. Also, please do not talk over each other.
SHANNON SIMMONS – Featured August 5, 2019
Shannon Simmons has been a court reporter since 1997. She was a freelance reporter for twenty-one years, did a year in juvenile court then landed her permanent role as court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 10 – judge Lee Wilson presiding. She has been with Judge Wilson for four months.
COURT REPORTER TIP –
“My day would go a lot smoother if…..”
The lawyers speaking to the jury would not trail off and mumble (as if they were thinking out loud when speaking.