Court reporters and court recorders play a key role in ensuring that court records are complete, accurate, and reliable. Governor Larry Rhoden and Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen have declared February 7-14, 2026, as Court Reporting and Captioning Week in South Dakota.
These professionals use advanced technology such as stenographic machines to capture spoken words and translate them into written text in real time. Their work takes place both inside and outside the courtroom, including recording legal cases and depositions, providing live captioning at events, and helping members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities access information.
The week is part of a national effort to highlight the importance of court reporting, recording, and captioning professions while also raising awareness about job opportunities in these fields. The South Dakota Unified Judicial System employs both court reporters—who use stenographic equipment—and court recorders—who operate electronic recording systems—to maintain accurate records during court proceedings. As noted on the official website, the system serves as the judicial branch of state government for all residents throughout South Dakota by supporting judicial education, promoting transparency in proceedings, providing public access to court records, overseeing courts like the Supreme Court, circuit courts, magistrate courts, and offering online resources for legal assistance.
South Dakota State Court Administrator Greg Sattizahn stated: “The demand for stenographic court reporters and captioners is at an all-time high right now. It can take on average as little as two years to complete a stenographic court reporting program, allowing those who choose this career path the ability for nearly instant employment without the debt of a four-year college degree.”
There are several types of professionals within this field: official court reporters employed by courts; freelance deposition reporters working with attorneys; broadcast captioners; and CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) captioners who often assist students who are deaf or hard of hearing in classroom settings. Employment prospects remain strong for those entering these professions immediately after graduation. Careers in stenographic reporting or captioning offer competitive pay rates along with opportunities to travel and work in various venues.
Current job openings with the South Dakota Unified Judicial System can be found at https://ujs.sd.gov/careers.
For individuals interested in technology-driven careers that involve writing skills and assisting others—particularly those who type quickly—the fields of court reporting or captioning may be suitable options. Additional information about exploring these careers is available through NCRA/discoversteno.org.
The National Court Reporters Association offers a free six-week online course called A to Z Intro to Steno Machine Shorthand Program. This introductory course allows participants to learn basic steno machine skills before committing further to this career path.
A copy of the proclamation recognizing Court Reporting and Captioning Week is available online.
