Jun 21, 2023
Iowa has a court reporter shortage
Iowa courts are facing a serious shortage. The Gazette's courts reporter Trish Mehaffey talks with Becky Lutgen Gardner on the opportunities available to Iowa job seekers.
Key points:
* Iowa is facing a 'beyond crisis' level shortage of court reporters, with 33 job openings in the state and a nationwide high demand.
* Court reporting offers an annual starting salary of nearly $56,000 and involves transcribing court proceedings using specialized stenography skills.
* There's only one school in Iowa offering a two-year real time/court reporting degree, contributing to the shortage. The program recently went virtual and saw its highest enrollment in years.
* Despite the strenuous certification process, court reporters enjoy the varied nature of the job and the learning opportunities it provides.
* The shortage is affecting court proceedings, with court reporters having to juggle between different judges and hearings, causing delays and increased stress.
* Temporary solutions include hiring retired court reporters and conducting remote hearings, but a long-term solution is still needed.
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