Employment opportunities
Official and 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 or to be included on the roster, 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. Job announcements for Digital Court Reporter positions, if available, are posted on the permanent positions page.
Information on freelance court reporting services can be found down the page.
Current openings for permanent positions
Official Court Reporter - First Judicial Administrative District
Milwaukee County, Branch 4, Judge Mel Flanagan
Full-time position Contact: Michelle Smith, Manager-Court Reporting Services, (414) 278-3995
To apply: Please submit a cover letter, current resume and list of references to Michelle Smith, Manager-Court Reporting Services, Milwaukee County Courthouse, Room 609, 901 North 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53233; fax (414) 223-1243; or e-mail michelle.smith@wicourts.gov
Application deadline: 4:00 p.m., Monday, April 28, 2014
Official Court Reporter - Seventh Judicial Administrative District
Jackson County, Branch 1, Judge Thomas Lister
80% job share position
Contact: Patrick Brummond, District Court Administrator, (608) 785-9546
To apply: Please submit a cover letter, current resume and list of references to Patrick Brummond, District Court Administrator, District VII Court Admin Office, 333 Vine St Rm 3504, La Crosse, WI, 54601-3296; fax (608) 785-5530; or e-mail patrick.brummond@wicourts.gov
Application deadline: Open until filled
Current openings for limited term positions
None at this time.
Freelance court reporting services
Each of the ten 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)
Michelle Smith, Manager, Court Reporting Services
(414) 278-5351
michelle.smith@wicourts.gov
District 2
Theresa Owens, District Court Administrator
(262) 636-3133
theresa.owens@wicourts.gov
District 3
Michael Neimon, District Court Administrator
(262) 548-7210
michael.neimon@wicourts.gov
District 4
Jon Bellows, District Court Administrator
(920) 424-0028
jon.bellows@wicourts.gov
District 5
Gail Richardson, District Court Administrator
(608) 267-8820
gail.richardson@wicourts.gov
District 6
Ron Ledford, District Court Administrator
(715) 345-5295
ron.ledford@wicourts.gov
District 7
Patrick Brummond, District Court Administrator
(608) 785-9546
patrick.brummond@wicourts.gov
District 8
Ron Ledford (interim), District Court Administrator
(920) 448-4281
ron.ledford@wicourts.gov
District 9
Susan Byrnes, District Court Administrator
(715) 842-3872
susan.byrnes@wicourts.gov
District 10
Pat Brummond (interim), District Court Administrator
(715) 839-4826
patrick.brummond@wicourts.gov