Laws & Regulations

Court Reporting Laws & Regulations

Understanding the legal framework governing court reporting is essential for both legal professionals and court reporters. Below you'll find information about federal and state regulations that apply to the court reporting profession.

Federal court reporters are governed by the Court Reporter Act (28 U.S.C. § 753) and the Judicial Conference of the United States guidelines. Key requirements include:

  • Certification by the Judicial Conference
  • Adherence to transcript format standards
  • Compliance with fee schedules established by the Judicial Conference
  • Maintenance of official court records

State requirements for court reporters vary significantly. Many states require:

  • State certification or licensure
  • Continuing education credits
  • Minimum speed requirements (typically 200-225 WPM)
  • Background checks
  • Professional liability insurance

Note: Always verify current requirements with your state's court reporter board or licensing authority.

Court reporters handling medical-related depositions and proceedings must comply with HIPAA regulations:

  • Secure handling of Protected Health Information (PHI)
  • Business Associate Agreements with covered entities
  • Secure transmission and storage of transcripts
  • Proper disposal of records containing PHI

Court reporters are bound by strict confidentiality and ethics requirements:

  • Impartiality and neutrality in all proceedings
  • Prohibition on discussing case details
  • Conflict of interest disclosure requirements
  • Accurate and complete record keeping
  • Professional conduct standards

With the rise of remote depositions, new regulations have emerged:

  • State-specific rules for remote oath administration
  • Technology requirements for secure connections
  • Record retention requirements for remote proceedings
  • Witness identification protocols
  • Exhibit handling in virtual environments