Court reporters from Wisconsin’s Fifth Judicial District came together in Madison on March 7, 2025, for a day of learning, collaboration, and professional development at the State Bar of Wisconsin offices. Held alongside the annual District 5 Judges Meeting, the event provided a rare opportunity for court reporters to meet in one place.
District 5 Chief Judge Julie Genovese explained, "Court reporters play a critical role in our justice system by taking and preserving the record. Many times, they work on their own, especially in the smaller counties, and we wanted to provide them with the chance to meet and collaborate with their peers. We also value them as professionals and think it is important they have opportunities to receive training to continually improve their skills and knowledge of the court system."
The court reporters heard from a number of speakers on various topics throughout the day:
- Alexandra Wirth, the Program Manager for the Court Interpreter Program in the Office of Court Operations, presented on the role interpreters play in legal proceedings. She highlighted how court reporters and interpreters can collaborate to ensure an accurate record is maintained.
- Dr. Amber Ault, the Wisconsin Lawyer Assistance Program (WisLAP) Manager, gave a presentation on the topic of vicarious trauma. Dr. Ault highlighted the unique stressors court reporters experience in their day-to-day work and the long-term impact that repeated exposure to such content can have on their mental health. She emphasized recognizing the signs of being affected by vicarious trauma early and provided tools to manage stress, set emotional boundaries, and ideas for how to access resources for support.
- Dane County court reporter Meredith Seymour appreciated the focus on mental well-being, stating "With the emotional demands of court reporting sometimes going unnoticed, this presentation was an essential reminder for reporters to prioritize their mental well-being and seek out the necessary support to continue their work effectively and sustainably."
- Abbey Read, the Human Services Officer in the Office of Management Services, discussed resources available to court reporters through the Wisconsin Court System's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and answered commonly asked questions related to benefits and time off, as well as compensation and certifications for court reporters.
- Lili, a Dane County Court Reporter and former faculty at Madison College for the court reporter training program, provided an overview of how the digital audio recording (DAR) equipment works, the American Association of Electronic Reporters & Transcribers (AAERT) certification process, and the Director of State Court's Court Reporter Advisory Committee.
The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees. Long-time court reporter Ann Albert said, "I have been a reporter in Dane County for more than 40 years and found the information covered in the District 5 court reporter meeting really helpful and relevant, specifically the benefits presentation and the session regarding coping with trauma experienced as a result of reporting difficult court cases. We have a wide variety of experience levels and reporting methodologies utilized in our district. I think meetings like this foster collegiality and understanding for all of us in this challenging profession."
Lafayette County court reporter Toni Harding added "As the only court reporter in my county, I thought this meeting was a great opportunity to network and meet colleagues from other counties in my district. The meeting provided a lot of useful information and, in my opinion, we should have a court reporters meeting every year!"
Wisconsin’s Fifth Judicial District is comprised of Columbia, Dane, Green, Lafayette, Rock, and Sauk Counties.
Third Branch eNews is an online monthly newsletter of the Director of State Courts Office. If you are interested in contributing an article about your department’s programs or accomplishments, contact your department head. Information about judicial retirements and judicial obituaries may be submitted to: Sara.Foster@wicourts.gov