Court Reporter Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Judge Laurence Stratton, who is chambered in the Renville County Courthouse in Olivia, Minnesota, seeks qualified candidates for a Court Reporter position. The ability to travel is required, as the court reporter will occasionally work in other counties within the Eighth Judicial District.

This position is responsible for the verbatim recording and transcription of testimony from judicial proceedings, hearings, and conferences in compliance with all applicable statutes, court rules, and directives of the appointing authority. Additionally, the court reporter serves as the judicial officer's confidential assistant.

Example of Duties:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Capture a verbatim record of court proceedings. 
• Read or play back testimony upon request. 
• Prepare and distribute transcripts and court orders in accordance with the Rules of Court, judicial opinions, Minnesota Statutes, legal guidelines, and court policies. 
• Maintain accurate and complete files and records. 
• Stay current on applicable rules, statutes, policies, and procedural changes. 
• Serve as the Judge's confidential assistant. 
• Perform other court-related and confidential duties as directed by the Judge. 
• Travel periodically to other counties within the Eighth Judicial District, as needed. 

Minimum Qualifications:

Stenographic Court Reporter

A person seeking employment with the Minnesota Judicial Branch as an official stenographic court reporter must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent; and 
• Graduation from a court reporting school approved by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) within the past two years; or 
• Compliance with one of the following: 
  • Possess a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) designation from the NCRA; 
  • Hold an equivalent certification from another state or U.S. territory, or a recognized professional court reporter association; 
  • Have practiced proficiently as a professional stenographic reporter for the past two (2) years and, within one (1) month of hire, accurately take a minimum of 20 minutes of court proceedings alongside an RPR-certified stenographic court reporter (or equivalent certified reporter) and produce a transcript with at least 95% accuracy; or 
  • Obtain the RPR designation from the NCRA within two years of hire. Pending receipt of the RPR designation, the employee must, within one (1) month of hire, accurately take a minimum of 20 minutes of court proceedings alongside an RPR-certified stenographic court reporter (or equivalent certified reporter) and produce a transcript demonstrating at least 95% accuracy, as determined by the participating certified reporter. 

Stenographic court reporters who do not initially meet the above requirements must become certified by the Minnesota Judicial Branch or the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT) as an Electronic Court Reporter within three months of hire and record proceedings electronically until they meet the stenographic certification requirements.

Electronic Court Reporter

A person seeking employment with the Minnesota Judicial Branch as an official electronic court reporter must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Any combination of education, training, and experience demonstrating possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position; and 
• Within three months of hire, obtain one of the following: 
  • Electronic Court Reporter certification from the Minnesota State Court Administrator; 
  • Electronic Court Reporter Certification and Electronic Transcriber Certification from the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT); or 
  • Electronic Court Reporter certification from an accredited court reporter school. 

Court Reporters are at-will employees, and work is performed under the supervision of a District Court Judge.

Supplemental Information

• In addition to the online application, applicants must upload a cover letter and resume. 
• Current Minnesota Judicial Branch employees must have satisfactory performance ratings in all competencies on their most recent performance evaluation and no discipline above an oral reprimand within the preceding six months. 
• The selected candidate must successfully complete a criminal background check. 
• If you have questions about this position, please contact: 7th8th.HumanResources@courts.state.mn.us