Official & district court reporters
Candidates for Official or District Court Reporter vacancies with the State of Wisconsin Court System must meet one of three minimum professional standards to be considered eligible for hire: (1) Graduation from a court reporting school approved by either the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) or the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA), or (2) Successful completion of the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) examination administered by the NCRA, or (3) Successful completion of the Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR) examination administered by the NVRA. Salary is based on level of qualification and documented previous court reporting experience. Wisconsin provides an excellent benefits package, including a retirement program; optional health, life and disability insurance; plus paid vacation, sick leave, personal days and holidays.
The court system's Human Resources Office maintains a roster of eligible court reporters who are interested in Official and/or District Court Reporter positions throughout the State of Wisconsin. For additional information about court reporter positions contact the Human Resources Office, Wisconsin Court System, 110 E. Main St., Ste. 430, Madison, WI 53703-3356; telephone (608) 266-9795; FAX: (608) 261-8293; 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Certain locations in the Wisconsin Circuit Courts have been selected for the use of (State-owned) digital audio recording equipment to take the record. In these locations a Digital Court Reporter operates in place of a stenographic or voice writing court reporter. Digital Court Reporter hiring qualifications are distinct from the qualifications for stenographic and voice writing reporters listed above.
| Date posted | Position title | Description | Location | Date closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/26/2022 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Kelly McKnight, Ashland County Circuit Court, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Real-time proficiency is preferred, but not required. Learn more & apply | Ashland County | 02/25/2022 |
| 01/20/2022 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Ninth Judicial District, Vilas County Circuit Court, Branch 02, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Interested applicants will be presented to the elected Judge for consideration. This position is available starting August 1, 2022. Learn more & apply | Vilas County | Until filled |
| 01/14/2022 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Ninth Judicial District, Portage County Circuit Court, Branch 02, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Interested applicants will be presented to the appointed Judge for consideration. This position is available starting April 10, 2022. Learn more & apply | Portage County | Until filled |
| 01/14/2022 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Andrew Sharp, Richland County Circuit Court, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Learn more & apply | Richland County | Until filled |
| 01/04/2022 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Jerome Bitney, Barron County Circuit Court, Branch 2, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Real-time proficiency is preferred, but not required. Learn more & apply | Barron County | 03/12/2022 |
| 01/04/2022 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Rian Radtke, Trempealeau County Circuit Court, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Learn more & apply | Trempealeau County | Until filled |
| 12/06/2021 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Troy Nielsen, Waupaca County Circuit Court, Branch 1, seeks candidates for the position of fulltime Official Court Reporter. Real-time proficiency and stenographic/voice experience are preferred, but not required. Learn more & apply | Waupaca County | Until filled |
| 11/16/2021 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Kristela Cervera, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 5, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Real-time proficiency is preferred, but not required. Learn more & apply | Wauwatosa | Until filled |
| 11/10/2021 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Scott Woldt, Winnebago County Circuit Court, Branch 2, seeks candidates for the position of fulltime Official Court Reporter. Real-time proficiency is preferred, but not required. Learn more & apply | Oshkosh | Until filled |
| 09/14/2021 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Jonathan Richards, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 30, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Real-time proficiency is preferred, but not required. This position is available September 26, 2021. Learn more & apply | Milwaukee County | Until filled |
| 08/16/2021 | District court reporter – 65% | Applications are now being accepted for a sixty-five percent District Court Reporter position in Wisconsin's Fourth Judicial District. This position is available September 12, 2021. Learn more & apply | See description | Until filled |
| 07/14/2021 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Ellen Brostrom, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 6, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Real-time proficiency is preferred, but not required. This position is available July 18, 2021. Learn more & apply | Milwaukee County | Until filled |
| 07/02/2021 | Official court reporter (stenographic/voice or digital) | The Honorable Judge Thomas McAdams, Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 7, seeks candidates for the position of full-time Official Court Reporter. Real-time proficiency is preferred, but not required. This position is available August 15, 2021. Learn more & apply | Milwaukee County | Until filled |
| 05/11/2021 | Digital court reporter | Applications are now being accepted for a full-time Digital Court Reporter. This position will primarily be responsible for the verbatim recording and transcription of court proceedings through the use of digital audio recording (DAR) equipment. The reporter will take the record of proceedings both remotely and in person. Learn more & apply | Statewide | Until filled |
| 01/29/21 | District pool court reporter | Applications are now being accepted for full-time District Court Reporter position in the Milwaukee County Court Reporter Pool. The selected candidates will provide floating court reporter coverage for the First Judicial District. Candidate may also be considered for limited term positions available in the court reporter pool. Learn more & apply | Milwaukee County | Until filled |
| 04/15/2020 | District court reporter | Application are now being accepted for a full time District Court Reporter in the Fifth Judicial District, which serves Columbia, Dane, Green, Lafayette, Rock, and Sauk Counties. This position is available May 25, 2020. Learn more & apply | See description | Until filled |
Learn about court reporting careers
Court reporters play a critical role in the judicial system. The following resources will help you learn more about the various techniques used to perform this important function and how you can train to serve as a court reporter in the Wisconsin Court System. Please check back frequently as more content will be added over time.
Court reporters: Who they are, what they do, and where to apply!
The following video and corresponding flyer provide an overview of working as a court reporter in the Wisconsin Court System.
(3:48) | Video transcript
10 tools for a digital court reporter
(4:37) | Video transcript
Freelance court reporting services
Each of the nine judicial administrative districts of the Wisconsin Court System contracts separately for freelance court reporting services. Freelance reporters provide supplemental, contract services on an as needed basis and are not employees of the court system. Since freelance services are based on the needs of a specific judicial district, there is no guarantee of placement or assignment for freelance court reporters.
Court reporters who provide freelance services are not required to meet the eligibility requirements for hire as an official or district court reporter, however, an additional per diem is paid for court reporters who have passed a recognized certification exam.
- Contract for Freelance Court Reporting Services in Judicial Administrative District 1
- Contract for Freelance Court Reporting Services in Judicial Administrative Districts 2-10
If you are interested in exploring freelance assignments, please contact the District Court Administrator's Office of the district (see map) where you would be interested in providing service:
District 1 (Milwaukee County)
Tracy Klappenbach, Manager Court Reporter Services
Ph: (414) 278-3995
Email: tracy.klappenbach@wicourts.gov
District 2
Louis Moore, District Court Administrator
Ph: (262) 636-3133
Email: louis.moore@wicourts.gov
District 3
Michael Neimon, District Court Administrator
Ph: (262) 548-7210
Email: michael.neimon@wicourts.gov
District 4
Jon Bellows, District Court Administrator
Ph: (920) 424-0028
Email: jon.bellows@wicourts.gov
District 5
Theresa Owens, District Court Administrator
Ph: (608) 267-8820
Email: theresa.owens@wicourts.gov
District 7
Patrick Brummond, District Court Administrator
Ph: (608) 785-9546
Email: patrick.brummond@wicourts.gov
District 8
Thomas Schappa, District Court Administrator
Ph: (920) 448-4281
Email: thomas.schappa@wicourts.gov
District 9
Susan Byrnes, District Court Administrator
Ph: (715) 842-3872
Email: susan.byrnes@wicourts.gov
District 10
Christopher Channing, District Court Administrator
Ph: (715) 245-4105
Email: christopher.channing@wicourts.gov