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.

Information on freelance court reporting services can be found down the page.

Current openings for District or Digital Court Reporter positions

District 6 Court Reporter (Portage County - Stevens Point, WI)
District 9 Court Reporter - 50% (Marathon County - Wausau, WI)

To view complete postings and apply online please go to the permanent positions page.

Current openings for Official Court Reporter permanent positions

Select the linked job title for a detailed description of each position in Adobe PDF Adobe PDF format.

Official Court Reporter - First Judicial Administrative District
Milwaukee County, Branch 31, Judge Hannah Dugan
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.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Official Court Reporter - Third Judicial Administrative District
Part-time 60% job share position with benefits
Washington County, Branch 3, Judge Todd Martens (20%) and Washington County, Branch 2, Judge James Muehlbauer (40%)
Contact: Judge Muehlbauer's Office at (262) 335-4345
To apply: Please submit a cover letter and current resume to Judge Jim Muehlbauer, Circuit Court Judge Branch 2, 432 E. Washington Street, P.O. Box 1986, West Bend, WI 53095; fax (262) 335-4776; or email lisa.polenske@wicourts.gov.
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Current openings for limited term positions

Select the linked job title for a detailed description of each position in Adobe PDF Adobe PDF format.

District Court Reporter - First Judicial District
Positions available providing floating court reporter coverage in Milwaukee County.
Contact: Michelle Smith, Manager - Court Reporting Services, (414) 278-3995.
To apply: Please submit a cover letter, 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 to (414) 223-1243; or email to michelle.smith@wicourts.gov.
Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

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.

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
Louis Moore, District Court Administrator
(262) 636-3133
louis.moore@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
Theresa Owens, District Court Administrator
(608) 267-8820
theresa.owens@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
Thomas Schappa, District Court Administrator
(920) 448-4281
thomas.schappa@wicourts.gov

District 9
Susan Byrnes, District Court Administrator
(715) 842-3872
susan.byrnes@wicourts.gov

District 10
Don Harper, District Court Administrator
(715) 839-4826
don.harper@wicourts.gov

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