Supreme Court of Missouri
en banc
June 25, 2019
Effective July 1, 2019
Effective July 1, 2019
In re:
(1) Repeal of subdivision 14.04, entitled "Application for Certification;" subdivision 14.05, entitled "Eligibility for Certification;" subdivision 14.06, entitled "Admission Without Examination;" and the heading title and subdivision 14.07, entitled "Appointment of Official Court Reporter – Temporary Appointment," of Rule 14, entitled "Certified Court Reporters," and in lieu thereof adoption of a new subdivision 14.04, entitled "Application for Certification;" a new subdivision 14.05, entitled "Eligibility for Certification;" a new subdivision 14.06, entitled "Admission Without Examination;" and a new heading title and a new subdivision 14.07, entitled "Appointment of Official Court Reporters and Limited Authority to Appoint Temporary Court Reporters."
(2) Approval of Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners.
ORDER
1. It is ordered that effective July 1, 2019, subdivision 14.04, subdivision 14.05, subdivision 14.06, and the heading title and subdivision 14.07 of Rule 14 be and the same are hereby repealed and a new subdivision 14.05, a new subdivision 14.06, and a new heading title and new subdivision 14.07 adopted in lieu thereof to read as follows:
14.04 APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION
Every applicant for the Missouri examination for certification as a certified court reporter or for certification as a certified court reporter without further examination as provided in Rule 14.06 shall file with the clerk of this Court a written application in the form prescribed by the board. The applicant shall pay a fee to the clerk of this Court at the time the application is filed. The fee shall be in an amount provided in the regulations of the board and shall not be subject to withdrawal by the applicant in the event the applicant decided not to take the examination or is denied the right to take the examination. Upon request, the clerk of this Court shall forward to any interested person application forms together with the text of this Rule 14 and copies of regulations promulgated by the board under the provisions of Rule 14.03(e).
14.05 ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTIFICATION
An applicant who is at least eighteen years of age, is of good moral character, and has passed the Missouri examination or has been admitted without examination under Rule 14.06 or Rule 14.07 shall be issued a certified court reporter certificate.
14.06 ADMISSION WITHOUT EXAMINATION
(a) A certified court reporter certificate issued before July 1, 2002, or a certified court reporter certificate containing the designation "(G)" issued before December 31, 2001, shall remain in full force and effect unless thereafter revoked or suspended as provided by this Rule 14.
(b) An applicant who holds a registered professional reporter certificate from the National Court Reporters Association or a certified verbatim reporter certificate from the National Verbatim Reporters Association and is in good standing with the certifying association shall, upon application to the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners pursuant to this Rule 14 and payment of an application fee as provided in Rule 14.04, become a Missouri certified court reporter upon successfully passing a written examination with respect to their knowledge of the duties of a court reporter, of court procedure, and general legal terminology.
(c) A graduate of an accredited school of court reporting recognized by the board shall be awarded a temporary certificate upon initial application for certification testing to the board and payment of the required application fees. The temporary certificate shall be valid for a period of 24 months after graduation and shall not be renewable.
14.07 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICIAL COURT REPORTERS AND LIMITED AUTHORITY TO APPOINT TEMPORARY COURT REPORTERS
A court reporter who has not successfully passed the Missouri examinations for certification or has not been admitted without examination under Rule 14.06(b) shall not be appointed as an official court reporter by any judge in any circuit court of this state.
In the absence of an official court reporter because of illness, physical incapacity, death, dismissal, or resignation, a judge may appoint a temporary reporter who meets the requirements of Rule 14.05 or Rule 14.06(b) or (c). The temporary reporter shall not serve more than six months without obtaining a certificate pursuant to Rule 14.05 or Rule 14.06(b).
Every applicant for the Missouri examination for certification as a certified court reporter or for certification as a certified court reporter without further examination as provided in Rule 14.06 shall file with the clerk of this Court a written application in the form prescribed by the board. The applicant shall pay a fee to the clerk of this Court at the time the application is filed. The fee shall be in an amount provided in the regulations of the board and shall not be subject to withdrawal by the applicant in the event the applicant decided not to take the examination or is denied the right to take the examination. Upon request, the clerk of this Court shall forward to any interested person application forms together with the text of this Rule 14 and copies of regulations promulgated by the board under the provisions of Rule 14.03(e).
14.05 ELIGIBILITY FOR CERTIFICATION
An applicant who is at least eighteen years of age, is of good moral character, and has passed the Missouri examination or has been admitted without examination under Rule 14.06 or Rule 14.07 shall be issued a certified court reporter certificate.
14.06 ADMISSION WITHOUT EXAMINATION
(a) A certified court reporter certificate issued before July 1, 2002, or a certified court reporter certificate containing the designation "(G)" issued before December 31, 2001, shall remain in full force and effect unless thereafter revoked or suspended as provided by this Rule 14.
(b) An applicant who holds a registered professional reporter certificate from the National Court Reporters Association or a certified verbatim reporter certificate from the National Verbatim Reporters Association and is in good standing with the certifying association shall, upon application to the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners pursuant to this Rule 14 and payment of an application fee as provided in Rule 14.04, become a Missouri certified court reporter upon successfully passing a written examination with respect to their knowledge of the duties of a court reporter, of court procedure, and general legal terminology.
(c) A graduate of an accredited school of court reporting recognized by the board shall be awarded a temporary certificate upon initial application for certification testing to the board and payment of the required application fees. The temporary certificate shall be valid for a period of 24 months after graduation and shall not be renewable.
14.07 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICIAL COURT REPORTERS AND LIMITED AUTHORITY TO APPOINT TEMPORARY COURT REPORTERS
A court reporter who has not successfully passed the Missouri examinations for certification or has not been admitted without examination under Rule 14.06(b) shall not be appointed as an official court reporter by any judge in any circuit court of this state.
In the absence of an official court reporter because of illness, physical incapacity, death, dismissal, or resignation, a judge may appoint a temporary reporter who meets the requirements of Rule 14.05 or Rule 14.06(b) or (c). The temporary reporter shall not serve more than six months without obtaining a certificate pursuant to Rule 14.05 or Rule 14.06(b).
2. It is ordered that effective July 1, 2019, the Regulations of the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners are approved and, as approved, shall read as follows:
REGULATIONS
STATE OF MISSOURI
THE BOARD OF CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER EXAMINERS
UNDER PROVISIONS OF SUPREME COURT RULE 14.03(e)
STATE OF MISSOURI
THE BOARD OF CERTIFIED COURT REPORTER EXAMINERS
UNDER PROVISIONS OF SUPREME COURT RULE 14.03(e)
The Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners, hereinafter referred to as "the Board," hereby promulgates the following regulations, as directed by Supreme Court Rule 14.03(e), for implementation of the duties assigned herein.
1. Vacancies or newly established positions of official court reporters in courts of record of Missouri shall be filled by persons holding certificates as Certified Court Reporter, hereinafter referred to as "C.C.R.," issued by the Board as provided in Rule 14.07.
2. Applicants shall file not later than thirty days prior to the next examination a written application in the form prescribed by the Board together with a fee of $100.00 with the Clerk of the Supreme Court, which fee shall not be refunded in the event the applicant decides not to take the examination or fails the examination.
3. Any applicant who fails to pass any or all sections of Part I, the skills exam, and/or Part II, the general knowledge test, of the examination shall be permitted to take a subsequent examination upon the filing of a new application, together with a fee of $100.00 as required in the preceding paragraph of this Regulation. Such an examination shall include only the sections previously failed by the applicant.
4. Upon request, the Clerk of the Supreme Court shall forward to any person application forms, certificate of character forms (when applicable), and copies of Rule 14 and the Regulations of the Board.
5. Examinations for certification shall be held at least semiannually at times and places to be set by the Board.
6. The C.C.R. certificate, once granted by the Board, shall remain in effect upon the payment to the Clerk of the Supreme Court of an annual fee of $100.00 on or before January 1 of each succeeding year unless suspended or revoked pursuant to Rule 14.10 or 14.11.
7. On July 1 of each year, all C.C.R. certificates which have not been renewed by the payment of the annual renewal fee shall expire. An expired C.C.R. certificate may be reinstated at any time pursuant to Rule 14.11(c).
8. Persons holding a C.C.R. certificate who have practiced court reporting for 40 years or more, or who have reached the age of 60 years and are then in good standing as a C.C.R., shall be excused from the payment of the annual fee thereafter upon making a written application to the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners showing such fact.
9. Each person who is issued a C.C.R. certificate shall be entitled to use the abbreviation "C.C.R." after their name. Such person shall be entitled to procure and use a seal, similar to seals provided for use of notaries public, upon which shall be engraved the name of the reporter and the words "Missouri Supreme Court-Certified Court Reporter."
10. No certificate shall be valid for any system of verbatim reporting other than that for which it is issued.
11. Any C.C.R. who desires to employ a different system of verbatim reporting other than that system in which they have already been certified by the Board shall, prior to employing said system, become certified in said system pursuant to Rule 14.
12. The examination shall be conducted in two parts:
In Part I, each applicant shall satisfy the following accuracy and speed requirements in the system of verbatim reporting for which he/she seeks certification:
Each five-minute dictation will include the requisite number of words, with each 15-second segment having a 1.4 syllabic density.
Applicants will be given a total of three (3) hours to transcribe the dictation, with an accuracy of 95 percent required to pass.
Applicants may employ any system of verbatim reporting by which a record is preserved, the accuracy of which shall be the personal responsibility of the court reporter, provided, however, no system of direct electrical recording shall be considered a system of verbatim reporting for purposes of these regulations.
Applicants shall be required to furnish the equipment and supplies necessary for the reporting and transcription of dictated matter.
Upon completion of the examination, all verbatim notes or records, including tapes, diskettes or computer discs, transcripts, and other papers in connection with the examination, shall be retained in the custody of the Board.
In Part II, each applicant shall be tested by written examination in the following subjects:
Applicants will be given one hour in which to complete the General Knowledge Test, with a minimum score of 80 percent required to pass.
The content and depth of the examination shall be a continuing subject of review and consideration by the Board, and changes may be incorporated by means of amendments to these regulations.
13. The Board shall maintain a roster, along with pertinent information, of all individuals who have been certified. The Board, in its discretion, may publish a list of all C.C.R.s who are in good standing, suspended or revoked, and whose temporary certificates have expired.
1. Vacancies or newly established positions of official court reporters in courts of record of Missouri shall be filled by persons holding certificates as Certified Court Reporter, hereinafter referred to as "C.C.R.," issued by the Board as provided in Rule 14.07.
2. Applicants shall file not later than thirty days prior to the next examination a written application in the form prescribed by the Board together with a fee of $100.00 with the Clerk of the Supreme Court, which fee shall not be refunded in the event the applicant decides not to take the examination or fails the examination.
3. Any applicant who fails to pass any or all sections of Part I, the skills exam, and/or Part II, the general knowledge test, of the examination shall be permitted to take a subsequent examination upon the filing of a new application, together with a fee of $100.00 as required in the preceding paragraph of this Regulation. Such an examination shall include only the sections previously failed by the applicant.
4. Upon request, the Clerk of the Supreme Court shall forward to any person application forms, certificate of character forms (when applicable), and copies of Rule 14 and the Regulations of the Board.
5. Examinations for certification shall be held at least semiannually at times and places to be set by the Board.
6. The C.C.R. certificate, once granted by the Board, shall remain in effect upon the payment to the Clerk of the Supreme Court of an annual fee of $100.00 on or before January 1 of each succeeding year unless suspended or revoked pursuant to Rule 14.10 or 14.11.
7. On July 1 of each year, all C.C.R. certificates which have not been renewed by the payment of the annual renewal fee shall expire. An expired C.C.R. certificate may be reinstated at any time pursuant to Rule 14.11(c).
8. Persons holding a C.C.R. certificate who have practiced court reporting for 40 years or more, or who have reached the age of 60 years and are then in good standing as a C.C.R., shall be excused from the payment of the annual fee thereafter upon making a written application to the Board of Certified Court Reporter Examiners showing such fact.
9. Each person who is issued a C.C.R. certificate shall be entitled to use the abbreviation "C.C.R." after their name. Such person shall be entitled to procure and use a seal, similar to seals provided for use of notaries public, upon which shall be engraved the name of the reporter and the words "Missouri Supreme Court-Certified Court Reporter."
10. No certificate shall be valid for any system of verbatim reporting other than that for which it is issued.
11. Any C.C.R. who desires to employ a different system of verbatim reporting other than that system in which they have already been certified by the Board shall, prior to employing said system, become certified in said system pursuant to Rule 14.
12. The examination shall be conducted in two parts:
In Part I, each applicant shall satisfy the following accuracy and speed requirements in the system of verbatim reporting for which he/she seeks certification:
(1) Five (5) minutes of one-voice dictation at 180 words per minute;
(2) Five (5) minutes of two-voice dictation at 200 words per minute; and
(3) Five (5) minutes of two-voice dictation at 225 words per minute.
(2) Five (5) minutes of two-voice dictation at 200 words per minute; and
(3) Five (5) minutes of two-voice dictation at 225 words per minute.
Each five-minute dictation will include the requisite number of words, with each 15-second segment having a 1.4 syllabic density.
Applicants will be given a total of three (3) hours to transcribe the dictation, with an accuracy of 95 percent required to pass.
Applicants may employ any system of verbatim reporting by which a record is preserved, the accuracy of which shall be the personal responsibility of the court reporter, provided, however, no system of direct electrical recording shall be considered a system of verbatim reporting for purposes of these regulations.
Applicants shall be required to furnish the equipment and supplies necessary for the reporting and transcription of dictated matter.
Upon completion of the examination, all verbatim notes or records, including tapes, diskettes or computer discs, transcripts, and other papers in connection with the examination, shall be retained in the custody of the Board.
In Part II, each applicant shall be tested by written examination in the following subjects:
(1) English, including grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling;
(2) Medical and legal terminology;
(3) Court and deposition procedures;
(4) Transcript preparation;
(5) Supreme Court Rules and statutes concerning court reporter duties; and
(6) Matters of general knowledge.
(2) Medical and legal terminology;
(3) Court and deposition procedures;
(4) Transcript preparation;
(5) Supreme Court Rules and statutes concerning court reporter duties; and
(6) Matters of general knowledge.
Applicants will be given one hour in which to complete the General Knowledge Test, with a minimum score of 80 percent required to pass.
The content and depth of the examination shall be a continuing subject of review and consideration by the Board, and changes may be incorporated by means of amendments to these regulations.
13. The Board shall maintain a roster, along with pertinent information, of all individuals who have been certified. The Board, in its discretion, may publish a list of all C.C.R.s who are in good standing, suspended or revoked, and whose temporary certificates have expired.
3. It is ordered that notice of this order be published in the Journal of The Missouri Bar.
4. It is ordered that this order be published in the South Western Reporter.
Day – to – Day
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ZEL M. FISCHER
Chief Justice
________________________________
ZEL M. FISCHER
Chief Justice