Court Reporter Job at Monterey County Superior Court in Salinas

Salary : $99,777.60 - $127,316.80 Annually

Location : County of Monterey, CA

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 24/2006A/11DG

Department: Court Services

Opening Date: 11/07/2024

Description
•SIGNING INCENTIVE- $20,000 total for a full-time Court Reporter; $10,000 the first pay period after one full month of employment, $5,000 the first pay period after one-year anniversary, and $5,000 after two-year anniversary*
•FULL-TIME COURT REPORTERS START AT; pay step consistent with their experience.
•STUDENT LOAN AND EQUIPMENT ALLOWANCE; $10,000 for each full-time newly certified and hired court reporter; $5,000 initial payment, payable the first pay period after hire, $5,000 the first pay period after one-year anniversary.*
•RETENTION PAYMENT FOR CURRENT FULL-TIME COURT REPORTERS; $10,000 for each full-time Court Reporter employed as of March 1, 2024, and through the first full pay period of February 2025; $5,000 first full pay period after March 1, 2024, $5,000 first full pay period of February 2025.
• FINDERS FEE FOR COURT EMPLOYEES WHO REFER OFFICIAL COURT REPORTERS TO THE COURT; $5,000 total; $2,500 after new hire's orientation; $2,500 at new hire's one-year anniversary.*

*for hires prior to March 1, 2025.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
• Pay Differential for Realtime Services:

4% for Court Certified, 7 % for Nationally Certified.
• Court Reporter State License Fee:

Reimbursed at actual cost up to $200. per calendar year, subject to eligibility.
• Reimbursement for Annual Association Membership Fee:

Reimbursed at actual cost up to $500. for the annual National Court Reporters' Association (NCRA) and/or California Court Reporters's Association (CCRA) membership fee.
• Reimbursement for Equipment and Software Expenses:

Reimbursed at actual cost up to $600 per calendar year for the purchase of equipment, equipment maintenance, or software required for Court-assigned court reporting or captioning.
• Reimbursement for Convention Registration Fee:

Reimbursed at actual cost up to $500 per calendar year for member cost of registration for the California Court Reporters Association (CCRA) annual convention.
• Educational Assistance Policy:

Up to $1000. per year.

• This recruitment will remain open until the position has been filled.
  DESCRIPTION
  Under direction, the official court reporter is responsible for the verbatim official record; provides readback upon request; prepares certified transcripts of the proceedings; and performs other related duties.
  
  Employment Standards/Typical Qualifications:
  
  Certification by the California Department of Consumer Affairs Certified Shorthand Reporters Board is required. Incumbents provide and maintain the necessary equipment for the transcription of court proceedings. A valid California Driver's license may be required. Employees in this classification may be required to use their own vehicle to travel between facilities.
  
  Court Reporter realtime skills and/or certification are desirable. A pay differential is available for realtime services.

Examples of Duties

Positions in this class may perform any or all of the below listed duties. These should be interpreted as examples of the work, and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

1. Primary work is to attend court sessions as assigned and make verbatim stenographic records of the proceedings.
2. Provide immediate readback of all or portions of the court proceedings upon instruction of the judge.
3. Prepare printed, electronic or digital media transcripts of court proceedings.
4. Review and certify transcripts for accuracy, and files transcripts of court proceedings as required by statutes and as ordered by the Court.
5. Prioritize requests for transcripts in order to meet legal timelines.
6. Maintain a variety of electronic and paper files of the court record for which the reporter is directly responsible, prepares daily transcripts as needed, and provides transcripts of proceedings on request of parties or by order of the court.
7. Serve as a relief or floater reporter when needed in any court location.
8. Upload court reporter notes monthly to the "Court Reporter notes archival system."
9. Perform related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications & Examples of Experience and Training

Knowledge and Abilities
Any combination of education, training and/or experience which substantially demonstrates the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

Knowledge of:

1. California Law, Rules of Court, court forms and procedures that relate to court reporting services.
2. Proper English usage, spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation.
3. Courtroom practices and procedures.
4. Legal terminology, basic medical and other specialized and technical terminology required for court proceedings and protocol.
5. Computer equipment and data processing programs.

Ability to:

1. Hear and distinguish words spoken in varying tones and volumes.
2. Use Computer-Aided Transcription (CAT).
3. Record verbatim testimony at a rate certified to perform the work.
4. Provide read back of all or portions of the record instantaneously upon request as may be required in examination of witnesses or request of the jury.
5. Promptly prepare transcripts of proceedings when appropriate and certify the final transcript.
6. Safely maintain the files and notes of the court record for which court reporters are responsible.
7. Work independently with minimum supervision.
8. Handle more than one task simultaneously, while maintaining a sense of direction.
9. Maintain attention to detail; organize and prioritize work and meet critical time deadlines.
10. Maintain confidential information where legal standards so require.
11. Type accurately and operate a personal computer and other types of office equipment.
12. Use, adjust, move and perform minor maintenance of stenographic and similar equipment related to work.
13. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
14. Provide excellent customer service; establish and maintain effective work relationships with judges, judicial officers, professional and clerical staff, attorneys, and the general public.
15. Be available and have reliable ways to be contacted when needed on assignment in other locations.
16. Keep equipment readily available and be prepared to go to another assignment in a different department or location as needed in little advance notice.

EXAMPLES OF EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

The knowledge and skills listed above may be acquired through various types of experience, education, or training, typically:

Experience: Three (3) years of significant, directly related certified shorthand reporting or voice writing experience, preferably in a court environment.

Education: Equivalent to graduation from the twelfth grade (high school) or GED.

License: Possess and maintain a license as a Certified Shorthand Reporter or a license as a voice writer issued by the State of California.
Other Information

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

1. During the hours court is open for transaction of judicial business, incumbents shall not engage in, or solicit to engage in any other employment in their professional capacity. Other transcriptions not mandatory by statute must be done on own time outside of work hours. The incumbent primary duties are to attend court and transcribe transcripts that are mandatory by statute and/or ordered by the court.
   
   
2. Incumbents provide, move/handle and maintain their own equipment and cover the costs of transcribing the record in return for a fee set by statute.

REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

As a condition of employment, the incumbent will be required to:

1. To possess and maintain an active, valid certified Shorthand Reporter license issued by the State of California.
2. Successfully pass a background investigation.
3. Possess a valid current California class C license, (or) the employee must be able to provide suitable transportation approved by the hiring authority.
4. Applicants must have a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness. Convictions, depending upon the type, number and date, may be disqualifying.
5. Work history: False statements or omission of facts regarding background or employment history may result in disqualification or dismissal.
6. Incumbent provides and maintains, at own expense, all necessary equipment and materials to produce verbatim record, pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 10.810(b) (8) 810.
7. Incumbent is prohibited from holding any outside employment which conflicts with providing services to the court.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

The physical and sensory abilities required for this classification include:

Ability to:

1. Sit at a desk and/or in front of a stenographic machine or computer video display terminal for extended periods of time.
2. Hear well enough to understand faint conversation.
3. Incumbent may be exposed to volatile courtroom situations, unpleasant odors, and/or distasteful evidence.
4. Twist and bend your neck while sitting at a desk in front of a stenographic machine.

The Superior Court of California, County of Monterey offers a comprehensive benefits program. The below benefits summary is based on a full-time position benefits may be prorated for part-time positions:

Vacation: Accrues at the rate of 3.7 hours per 80 hours earned in a biweekly pay period. The accrual rate increases after 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years of service.

Holidays: 14 days a year.

Sick Leave: Provides salary continuation for absence due to illness and is earned at the rate of 3.08 hours 80 hours earned in a biweekly pay period.

Bereavement Leave: Up to 3 days of paid leave.

Educational Leave: Two 8-hour day per calendar year.

Education Reimbursement: Up to $1,000 per year.

Medical Insurance: employee and dependent coverage available.

Dental Insurance: employee and dependent coverage available.

Vision Care Insurance: employee and dependent coverage available.

Life Insurance: $30,000 life insurance policy.

Deferred Compensation: A voluntary deferred compensation program is available.

Retirement: Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Employer and Employee (based on percentage of pay) contributes into CalPERS

This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The
benefits and wages listed in the Court Personnel Policies or applicable MOU
prevail over this listing.

01

Do you posses and maintain a license as a Certified Shorthand Reporter issued by the State of California, and you are currently in good standing?

• Yes
• No

02

If your answer to question #1 above is 'Yes,' then please provide the following:

1. Attach a copy of your current CSR card to the online application; or
2. Scan and email a copy of your current CSR card to courtjobs@monterey.courts.ca.gov; or
3. Fax a copy of your current CSR card to Human Resources at (831) 775-5494; or
4. Mail a copy of your current CSR card or license to: Human Resources, Monterey County Superior Court, 240 Church Street, Room 308, Salinas, CA 93901.

Failure to provide a copy of your current CSR card will result in incomplete application materials and you will not move forward in the application process. The copy of your current CSR card must be received by the first screening date, subsequent screening dates or the final filing date as listed on the recruitment posting in order to receive consideration.

• I have attached a copy of my current CSR card to the on-line application.
• I have scanned and emailed a copy of my current CSR card to the email address noted above.
• I have faxed a copy of my current CSR card to the number noted above.
• I have mailed a copy of my current CSR card to the address noted above.
• I do NOT have a Certified Shorthand Reporter Card

03

Has your license ever been suspended or revoked?

• Yes
• No

04

If you answer yes to question #3, please provide the details.

05

Do you posses a current Realtime Reporters certification by either the National Court Reporter's Association or the Deposition Reporter's Association or are you qualified to be certified by the Court as a Realtime Reporter?

• National Court Reporter's Association Certification
• Deposition Reporter's Association Certification
• Qualified to be certified by the Court

06

Do you possess at least three (3) years of significant, directly related shorthand reporting experience?

• Yes
• No

07

Have you been subject to other disciplinary action by the Court Reporters Board of California or the equivalent board of another state?

• Yes
• No

08

If your answer is yes to question #6, please provide the details.

09

Please list the various time-related deadlines for production of the following transcripts as well as which statutory or other authority governs the deadlines:

1. Juvenile Writs,
2. Preliminary Hearings, and
3. Appeals.

10

As a court reporter there are competing demands to attend court sessions as well as provide timely transcripts mandated by statute. How do you prioritize your work in order to meet deadlines?

11

Has there ever been a time where an extension was needed to complete a transcript? If so, why and how was the transcription completed?

12

Were you referred to Monterey County Superior Court by a current employee of the Court? If yes, please provide that employee's name.

Required Question