This has been a crazy month for transitioning. As I'm now well into my fourth week of my new employment, I've driven quite a bit - so this traveling court reporter really IS traveling.
As you know, my first two weeks were spent in trial two counties away, driving about 45 minutes each way. The next week saw me spending my time close to home - Wake County only. Then this week, I was scheduled for a rocking week - Warren County, Caswell County, Vance County, Wake County - all in four days.
The good news is that Vance County's regular reporter was able to cover for today - so I'm back on the Board - and tomorrow both my cases are at the NC Business Court. The bad news, of course, is that gas prices have soared by about 20c/gallon in the past week. So the week with the "cheaper" gas, I didn't drive; the week where I was driving, well, let's just say $3.20/gallon was a heart stopper.
I'm meeting lots of nice people. New Judges, clerks, assistant clerks, sheriff's deputies, attorneys - now I just need a way to remember them all!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
On the Transition to Trial Work
Official court reporting involves being at court every day. Perhaps not in your own home county. Driving every day for 50 minutes is tough. Even if it's NOT in heavy traffic. Because before you leave for your drive, you have to do all the morning rituals - you know, waking up, bathing, breaking your fast. Couple that with not being a morning person... ooh, not pretty. That's the beginning of a tough day.
But after driving the 50 minutes, sitting in court for HOURS at a time, is grueling. And you're not a juror. No, you're the official court reporter, charged with taking down the record. This is tough, too. But, hey, you're trained to write. But seven hours a day, every day - that's hard.
Add to that unfamiliar terminology and fast-talking witnesses and interrupting attorneys, well, your fingers start to hurt!
So it's been eight days so far in our trial. Fatigue has set in, but the familiarity with terminology is also starting to set in. Phrasing is starting to appear with frequency, and the brain is starting to think about short forms.
We will hopefully have our case to the jury on Thursday. That's a good thing for this traveling reporter - because all I have to write is the charge conference and jury charge; arguments are not taken down. And, of course, while the jury is deliberating, court is at ease. Ah, some rest for this weary reporter.
And it's Valentine's Day. A short day is going to be better than chocolate this year.
But after driving the 50 minutes, sitting in court for HOURS at a time, is grueling. And you're not a juror. No, you're the official court reporter, charged with taking down the record. This is tough, too. But, hey, you're trained to write. But seven hours a day, every day - that's hard.
Add to that unfamiliar terminology and fast-talking witnesses and interrupting attorneys, well, your fingers start to hurt!
So it's been eight days so far in our trial. Fatigue has set in, but the familiarity with terminology is also starting to set in. Phrasing is starting to appear with frequency, and the brain is starting to think about short forms.
We will hopefully have our case to the jury on Thursday. That's a good thing for this traveling reporter - because all I have to write is the charge conference and jury charge; arguments are not taken down. And, of course, while the jury is deliberating, court is at ease. Ah, some rest for this weary reporter.
And it's Valentine's Day. A short day is going to be better than chocolate this year.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Murphy's Law Strikes!
Friday, my first day, was kind of a recon mission. I spent the morning in Wake County superior court shadowing the official reporter. Nice easy hearing, two-plus hours, and done by lunchtime. That's the kind of day I would LOVE to have!
Fast forward to Monday, my first day of trial. Realtime wouldn't work with my new notebook computer. Tried lots of permutations. Ended up having to go out to my truck for my BACKUP notebook (I believe in a redundant system, and here's a prime example of why). Got my system up and running, with realtime. Phew!
Backup recorder didn't work. (Our system requires two audio backups.) Tried with batteries instead of plug. Nope, no go. Well, that's all right, I can play with my NEW digital recorder. Hallelujah, THAT worked.
Ten minutes before court starts... ladies and gentlemen, you'll need to exit the courthouse. We ended up standing outside, nice day (thankfully!), in the parking lot for about 40 minutes while the bomb squad made sure there really was NOT a bomb in the building.
Oh My GOD!
And today, well, let's just say that my computer decided to have a meltdown, right when I was finishing up the rough drafts (two!) that were requested of me today. And we're not even finished with the first witness. This transition is going to be a bear...
But I'm strong. I beat cancer. How hard can this be??
Fast forward to Monday, my first day of trial. Realtime wouldn't work with my new notebook computer. Tried lots of permutations. Ended up having to go out to my truck for my BACKUP notebook (I believe in a redundant system, and here's a prime example of why). Got my system up and running, with realtime. Phew!
Backup recorder didn't work. (Our system requires two audio backups.) Tried with batteries instead of plug. Nope, no go. Well, that's all right, I can play with my NEW digital recorder. Hallelujah, THAT worked.
Ten minutes before court starts... ladies and gentlemen, you'll need to exit the courthouse. We ended up standing outside, nice day (thankfully!), in the parking lot for about 40 minutes while the bomb squad made sure there really was NOT a bomb in the building.
Oh My GOD!
And today, well, let's just say that my computer decided to have a meltdown, right when I was finishing up the rough drafts (two!) that were requested of me today. And we're not even finished with the first witness. This transition is going to be a bear...
But I'm strong. I beat cancer. How hard can this be??
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