STATE of MINNESOTA in SUPREME COURT ORDER in Re Minimum
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STATE OF MINNESOTA IN SUPREME COURT 81-876 ORDER In re Minimum Qualifications for Court Reporters: WHEREAS, the accuracy of the Court record is of critical importance to the integrity of the court process; WHEREAS, the Minnesota Shorthand Reporters Association has indicated that significant problems exist with the competency of currently practicing court reporters; WHEREAS, the Minnesota Shorthand Reporters Association has recommended testing to insure a minimum level of competence by Minnesota Shorthand Court reporters; WHEREAS, M.S. 486.02 provides that the Supreme Court shall establish minimum qualifications for competent stenographers; WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Supreme Court to adopt the following administrative provisions in response to the concerns of the Minnesota Shorthand Reporters Association: 1. That all official stenographic reporters shall certify that they have passed the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) examination by July l., 1993, and shall file a notarized copy of the RPR certification with the State Court Administator. 2. That each official stenographic reporter or per diem stenographic reporter serving a court shall retake the RPR exam at least once every six years and shall file the resultant certification. 3. That effective July 1, 1993, any document filed with the court prepared by a free lance court reporter shall include an affidavit attesting that the court reporter has passed the registered professional court reporter examination within the last six years. 4. That complaints about the competency or conduct of official or free lance court reporters in a particular judicial district shall be filed with the Chief Judge and Judicial District Administrator of the appropriate judicial district. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that any individual wishing to provide statements in support or opposition to the proposal shall submit nine copies in writing addressed to the Clerk of the Appellate Courts, 25 Constitution Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 by April 30, 1992. Dated: March 13, 1992 A. M. Keith OFFICE OF APPELLATE COURTS Chief Justice MAR 1 9 19% Lynne Johnston Official Court Reporter 18-C Government Center Minneapolis, MN 55487 March 27, 1992 OFFICE OF Honorable A. M. Keith APPELLATE COURTS Chief Justice Supreme Court c/o Clerk of the Appellate Courts APR 1 1992 25 Constitution Avenue St. Paul, MN 55155 RE: Minimum Qualifications for Court Reporters Dear Chief Justice Keith: This letter is in response to your Orderof March 13, 1992 concerning Minimum Qualifications for Court Reporters. I have been a court reporter for nearly 30 years. In all that time I have had only one complaint about my job performance. (we had a trial with three young children as witnesses -- defense counsel did not like it that I smiled at them as they sat next to me in the witness chair to testify.) I have never been late with an appeal transcript, or any other transcript. I have asked only once for an extension, and that was because my typist was ill. By the time the Appellate Court contacted me to see if I really needed the extension, I had found another typist and did not need the extension. Thirty years ago I successfully completed the courses required to graduate from the accredited Court Reporting Course at the Minnesota School of Business. I graduated in September, 1962. I do have a high school diplcma, two years of college and the Court Reporting Certificate. I know that many of my contemporaries have the same qualifications as I do. I joined the National Reporters' Association and received my RPR certification. Because I had to make some hard financial decisions some years back1 dropped my membership in the National Association. Unlike other professions we must belong to the National-Association to maintain our RPR. I maintained my Minnesota membership because I felt it would be better to keep my certification frcm Minna--=ota as that is where I worked. Having an RPR was never a requirement of my employment. I have kept up with the CE courses through the years. I strongly feel that if there is to be additional certifi- cation for court reporters that those who already have the various qualifications mentioned, graduated from an accredited reporting school, State certification or RPR, should not have to be retested to be certified. Honorable A.M. Keith Page 2 March 27, 1992 Thank you very much for your patience in reading this letter. Again, I strongly urge you to certify qualified reporters already in the system without testing, or in the alternative drep the whole certification matter. Twenty-five plus years ago when I campaigned for you and voted for you inyourbid for the Governor's Office I didn't antici- pate tha:t I would one day be asking you to "vote" for me in my bid to keep my employment. But here I am doing just that. Sincerely, I CAROL A. SUILMANN COURTREPORTER 307 GRAIF BUILDING MANKATO, MN 56001 (507) 625-7021 S.S. April 1, 1992 Clerk of the Appellate Courts 25 Constitution Avenue St. Paul, MN 55155 Re: Minimum Qualifications for Court Reporters To Whom It May Concern: I would like to comment on your recent proposal to certify reporters every six years. In my opinion to require all reporters to meet this re.quirement would be an overwhelming and expensive task. In the same vein, I'm sure you wouldn't advocate that attorneys retake the bar exam every six years, the reason being that it is unnecessary, burdensome, and would be prohibitive to the profession. Our organization is concerned with and committed to high standards for all reporters. I believe we have lived up to those goals consistently. Reporters with 10, 20, 30 and more years in the field should allow their experience to speak for itself. I feel that grandfathering in this group would be much more expedient. I urge you to engage in further discussions on this matter in order to reach a compromise that ensures the quality of new reporters in the market, but recognizes and reaffirms the role of experienced reporters presently. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Ca% A. Sui dmann k3zA.isz.c?+zmbm COURT REPORTER Of=FICE OF April 2, 1992 AQ%LLATE COURT$ Clerk of the Appellate Courts iv% o 6 1992 25 Constitution Avenue St. Paul, MN 55155 RE: Order, In re Minimum Qualifications for Court Reporters Dear Sir or Madam: I wish to provide a statement in opposition to the proposed requirements. While I appreciate the willingness of the Supreme Court to begin action on court reporter certification, I view the proposed order as only a starting point for discussion. I strongly urge the Supreme Court to work with MCRA and the reporters appointed to the Conference of Chief Judges CSR subcommittee to develop an order acceptable to all parties in the judiciary. I believe that there needs to be a provision to certify qualified reporters already in the system without testing and that the proposed requirement for retesting is unnecessary, burdensome and inconsistent with any other professional testing requirement in the judiciary or the state. Thank you for your consideration of my comments. Sincerely, Jl/$iLg& Terri R. Hanson Court Reporter cc: MCRA (6 12) 522-62 12 4242 THOMAS AVE. NO. MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55412 Cl651 Government Center Minneapolis, Minnesota 55487 April 3, 1992 Clerk of the Appellate Courts 25 Constitution Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 Re: Minimum Qualifications for Court Reporters I oppose Chief Justice Keith's Order dated March 13, 1992 on the above-referenced matter. As an official court reporter who has worked in Hennepin County for almost 17 years, I do not feel there is a problem with the competency of official court reporters presently working for judges. If an official court reporter were incompetent, the judge would not keep that reporter on staff. I do feel that new reporters who are hired and per diem reporters should be RPR's. This would reduce the likelihood of entrance-level reporters being used who cannot handle or don't have the endurance to handle difficult courtroom situations. I do not feel that it is necessary for court reporters to retake the RPR exam every six years. I passed the RPR exam in 1976. There were over 60 other people in the room taking it with meI and only three of us passed. This is a difficult test. Once should be enough. Other professions do not require recertification. If this Order goes into effect, it is my understanding Minnesota would be the only state in the United States requiring recertifi- cation for court reporters. Our jobs are very difficult and very stressful. Most of us work long hours. Retesting would add another time-consuming stress which is unnecessary. Once we have passed the RPR exam, we must accumulate 30 CE credits every three years to keep the RPR current. As a court reporter, I feel my time is well spent attending seminars that keep me up to date in the reporting profession. I would like to see Minnesota require certification and testing. I do not want Minnesota to become the place to go for court reporters who are not qualified to work in other states. However, I do not feel it is necessary to retest court reporters who have already been certified. Sincerely, Barbara Johnson, RPR Official Court Reporter dlJ(sty C. Boom Official Court Reporter District Court Stearns County Courthouse St. Cloud, MN 56302 April 3, 1992 CIFFICE OF APPELLA-l-E C:oi 3P’.‘ Clerk of the Appellate Courts MM 0 7 1992 25 Constitution Avenue St. Paul, MN 55155 Re: Order regarding Minimum Qualifications for Court Reporters Dear Sir/Madam: I appreciate the opportunity to respond to the March 13 Order signed by Justice Keith.