Colorado Court Reporters Week

Guardians of the Record
Celebrating Colorado’s Court Reporters

By: Amy Woodward, Media Coordinator

National Court Reporting and Captioning Week is February 7 to 14, 2026. The annual event, sponsored by the National Court Reporters Association, celebrates stenographic professionals, captioners, and legal videographers, with this year’s theme being "Peace, Love, & Steno.” 

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The theme parallels the sentiments of Beckie Collings, managing court reporter for the 23rd Judicial District, and Rachel Arellano, managing court reporter for the 17th Judicial District.

“I truly LOVE what I do,” said Collings, who has worked as a court reporter for almost 23 years. “Court reporting gives me a strong sense of purpose and challenges me in the best possible way.”

For Arellano, the challenges and day-to-day responsibilities are also highlights of being a court reporter.

“I love the overall variety in my job,” said Arellano. “I also enjoy that every time I'm in court, it truly is something different every day.”

Putting specialized skills into action

Court reporters, who are sometimes referred to as guardians of the record, are the official reporters of the court who create a verbatim record of a legal proceeding. While exceptional typing skills are necessary, the profession also requires a specialized skill set that combines typing with the ability to record words phonetically, known as stenography.

“Steno isn’t just typing; it’s a language of sorts,” said Collings. “Much like playing a piano, we press multiple keys at the same time, and those combinations represent entire words or even full phrases.”

Many people who have watched a court proceeding notice the court reporter sitting near the bench, typing ceaselessly and capturing the ongoing dialogue. Some people may have asked themselves, "How fast can they type?"

“In school, reporters pass tests at 225 words a minute,” said Collings. “Sometimes, it gets into the 300s.”

As the official reporter, court reporters listen to and record some of the most difficult dialogue and moments in court, and they work in a constant, high-stakes environment that demands self-care.

“I’ve learned how to deal with vicarious trauma and minimize the effects of things I see and hear in the courtroom,” said Arellano. “I’m grateful that Judicial has recognized this aspect of our jobs and has focused efforts to provide training and resources in that area.”

Court reporters enhanced by technology, not replaced

The Colorado Judicial Department currently employs 53 court reporters statewide.

While stenographic reporters make up a large portion of staff, there are also voice writers who use advanced computer-aided transcription software and a steno mask to convert speech into text.

The court reporting profession has always relied on combining writers with technology. Even with the rise of artificial intelligence, its use enhances the tools writers use rather than replacing them.

For example, new software has enhanced the writer’s ability to improve accuracy and efficiency, a capability unmatched by AI, which currently captures speech at approximately 80 percent accuracy under ideal conditions, according to an article in the Journal of Court Reporting by the National Court Reporters Association.

“Long before I entered the profession, there had been a recurring perception that court reporting would become obsolete,” Collings said. “Yet here we are in 2026, and the profession remains strong and continues to evolve.” 

For Arellano, the profession requires dedication, discipline, and resilience, and she finds her work gratifying every day.  

“It never gets old to hear judges introduce you to jurors as the most important person in the room and say that what we do is the closest thing to magic,” she said. “It's rewarding and motivating to hear judicial officers recognize the importance of having a court reporter present.”

To view current openings for court reporters with the Colorado Judicial Department, visit the Careers page at www.coloradojudicial.gov

For more information about how to become a court reporter, visit www.ncra.org.