Champaign County's first stenography class aims to fill shortage of court reporters

Sam Lisec, The News-Gazette, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
·4 min read

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URBANA — Champaign County is launching its first pilot program Wednesday for people looking to become court stenographers.

The free course, which will be primarily taught by Melissa Clagg, a former full-time stenographer at the Champaign County Courthouse, aims to help remedy a statewide shortage of more than 100 official court stenographers.

Clagg, who has 40 years of experience using a steno machine to create verbatim transcripts of court hearings, said the course will consist of two cohorts of students meeting five times a week for two years — or until they are able to pass the required state test.

The first cohort of seven students begins instruction Jan. 22, but people can still apply by April 30 to join the fall cohort that will begin Sept. 9.

"There is a great need for the reporters in the courtroom because citizens and litigants are entitled to a record, an accurate record of the court proceedings," Clagg said, adding that transcripts of court hearings are used by appellate courts when reviewing cases.

Judie Roberts, a supervisor for Champaign County's six court stenographers, said when she was taught the skills 37 years ago, she was told tape recorders would soon replace the profession.

But Roberts said she doesn't believe that will ever happen because a cough, or a bang on the door, can sabotage even the best tape recorder, while stenographers can, and regularly do, ask people to repeat themselves, or talk one at a time, for the sake of the accuracy.

"I think it's important to know, no one really knows what we do," Roberts said. "We're the hidden people. Every once in a while you'll see a law program on TV where you see this woman pounding on a machine, and that's pretty much all people know that is. And word didn't get out and we've got a real, real, real, shortage."

Clagg said the state needs an estimated 500 official court stenographers for all of its judicial circuits, but there are more than 100 vacancies. Felony and juvenile hearings, which are required by law to have a court stenographer present, must be postponed if one isn't available.

That is why Clagg's course will be teaching students a more simplified theory of court-stenography techniques in order to expedite the learning process.

The theory, which is the school of thought she was originally trained on, focuses on the phonetics of what people are saying in the courtroom and requires less thinking, Clagg said.

The more modern approach to stenography involves more precise keystrokes and combinations in order to differentiate between words like "here" and "hear." But this model can require more time to learn, Clagg said.

While the course Clagg will be teaching is free, students will be required to attend three in-person classes from 9 a.m. to noon and two remote classes from 11 a.m. to noon every week and practice on a steno machine for two to three hours every day.

Clagg, who previously taught two other court stenographers who now work in the Champaign County Courthouse, said the program was first pitched last year and will be funded through the Court Reporting Services of Illinois agency, who is paying her a per diem rate.

She added that the pilot program can't be too large because of the importance of one-on-one instruction.

Those looking to apply to the fall cohort can go to ilcrs.com/training and must complete a May 4 introductory workshop.

The two next-closest stenography programs are located in Mattoon or Moline, with classes also available in Cook County or online.

"I believe it is so needed," Clagg sad. "The problem is this career is what we have deemed the career that no one has ever heard of, so it's hard getting the word out. But I think something like this coming to fruition is going to highlight the career, so I am just excited to be a part of it."

The program's kick-off class was rescheduled from Monday to Wednesday due to weather and safety concerns.