You asked for the following information on court reporters in northeast and mid-Atlantic states: (1) salaries, (2) per page transcript fees, (3) duty to own equipment, and (4) benefits.

SUMMARY

We compiled answers to your questions from six states (Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) and information on transcript fees from an additional three states (Maine, New Jersey, and New York).

Of these states, starting salaries for court reporters range from $ 41,321 in Rhode Island to $ 48,523 in Connecticut. Vermont pays court reporters on an hourly basis.

Transcript fees in these states vary. The highest rate for the original copy is in New York which authorizes a range of between $ 3. 30 and $ 4. 30 per page. The lowest fee is $ 1. 75 per page in Connecticut. All of these states also set rates for copies and some distinguish between fees for the first and second copy. Some also set fees for expedited and daily transcripts. Unlike other states, New York allows court reporters to negotiate their transcript fee within a range set by court order. New Jersey's fees will increase automatically based on a consumer price index formula.

Of these six states, all but Rhode Island require court reporters to buy their equipment.

All six states offer benefits to their court reporters.

The chart below summarizes this information.

We will update this report when we receive information from other states. In addition, attached are results of surveys done of salaries for court reporters in western states and a phone survey of salaries and transcript fees in various states. Both surveys were done in connection with the National Center for State Courts.

CONNECTICUT

According to Deborah Fuller of the Judicial Branch, there are 58 full-time court reporters. Their salary starts at $ 48,523. There are 90 full-time court monitors (who run tape machines). Their salary starts at $ 33,219. There are five part-time reporters and 125 part-time monitors who earn $ 14. 25 per hour.

A party or individual must pay $ 1. 75 for each transcript page and state and municipal officials (with some exceptions) pay $ 1. 50 per page and $ . 50 per page when the $ 1. 50 charge has already been made (CGS 51-63(c)). Expedited transcripts are $ 3. 00 per page, overnight transcripts are $ 3. 95 per page, and copies are $ . 50 per page.

Court reporters are responsible for their own equipment but court monitors are not.

Full-time employees receive state employee benefits and part-time employees can qualify for health insurance.

Under the statutes, court reporters also receive necessary traveling expenses (CGS § 51-63(g)).

MARYLAND

According to Elizabeth Veronis of the Maryland court system, salaries and benefits for court reporters in Maryland vary because court reporters are employed by the county circuit courts. The court and county set the employment terms. The court system has not compiled information from the counties.

According to Valerie Dawson, president of the Maryland Court Reporters Association, in her area, the salary range is from $ 46,000 to $ 56,000. She believes this range is comparable to those in other counties. Chief reporters, who supervise several reporters, have a salary in the mid-$ 60,000 range. She states that electrical recording monitors earn lower salaries in the range of the $ 20,000's and $ 30,000's.

The chief judge sets transcript fees by administrative order. The fee is $ 3. 75 per page for an original and two copies: $ 3. 00 per page for the original, $ . 50 per page for the first copy, and $ . 25 per page for the second copy. According to Ms. Dawson, the fee can be different for expedited or overnight delivery.

Ms. Dawson states that court reporters in her county own their own equipment and she believes this is true in other jurisdictions. But the county pays for supplies such as paper and computer discs.

According to Ms. Dawson, court reporters are like other state or county employees and receive health insurance, state retirement, cafeteria plans, paid vacation, and other benefits.

MASSACHUSETTS

According to Dana Leavitt, court administrator in the Administrative Office of the Superior Court Department, salaries for court reporters range from $ 43,887 to $ 57,531. Court reporters are part of a collective bargaining unit and will receive a 3% increase later this year.

Under the statutes, they also receive reasonable and actual expenses for travel, food, and lodging as the administrative judge allows (Mass. Gen. L. ch. 221 § 88, 91).

The transcript fee is $ 3. 00 per page for the original and $ 1. 00 per page for each copy ordered at the same time. Daily copy ordered by the presiding judge or a party is $ 4. 50 per page for the original and $ 1. 50 per page for each additional copy.

According to Mr. Leavitt, court reporters are responsible for their own equipment. Court reporters receive full state employee benefits.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

According to Donald Goodnow, director of the New Hampshire Administrative Office of the Courts, salaries for court stenographers range from $ 42,835 to $ 54,670.

Court rules set a number of different transcript fees. For appeals, court reporters receive $ 2. 25 per page for the original and $ . 75 per page for each copy. For all other transcripts, the same fees apply except that a second copy is $ . 75 per page and additional copies are $ . 20 per page.

According to Mr. Goodnow, court stenographers buy their own equipment. They receive health and dental benefits and receive a pension as part of the New Hampshire State Retirement System.

By statute, court reporters are reimbursed for actual expenses when they are away from home engaged in court work and the state pays for supplies (N. H. Rev. Stat. 519. 29 et seq. ).

RHODE ISLAND

According to Bill Rogers of the Rhode Island Shorthand Reporters Association, the salary range for court reporters is $ 41,321 to $ 46,734. But court reporters can also receive longevity payments.

The transcript fee is $ 3. 00 per page for the original and $ 1. 50 per page for each copy.

According to Mr. Rogers, the state provides equipment, supplies, and phones. It also provides benefits like medical and dental insurance.

VERMONT

According to Vermont Court Administrator Lee Suskin, court reporters earn between $ 16 and $ 25 per hour but the state has been shifting away from using court reporters toward using audio and video recording equipment.

Under Court Administrator's Directive No. 61 (May 12, 1982), the fee for transcripts is $ 2. 25 per page for originals and $ . 50 per page for copies.

According to Mr. Suskin, reporters must buy their own equipment. They have full state employee benefits including health insurance and pensions.

OTHER TRANSCRIPT FEES

In Maine, the transcript fee is $ 3. 00 per page for the original and $ 1. 00 per page for each copy ordered at the same time. Daily copy ordered by the presiding judge or a party is $ 4. 50 per page for the original and $ 1. 50 per page for each copy.

In New Jersey, the transcript fee is $ 3. 00 per page for an original and $ . 50 for each copy. Beginning July 1, 2005 and every five years after that, the fees increase by a formula to reflect changes in the consumer price index.

In New York, under Chief Administrator Rule 108. 2, court reporters must enter agreements with parties to provide transcripts and set a fee within a range set by the rule. The fee must be based on the regional and market costs, complexity of the subject matter involved, and the court reporter's transcript volume. The rule also allows court reporters to charge different fees based on whether the transcript is produced in a regular manner or on an expedited or daily basis.

The rule sets a number of fees.

1. When the court system is required to pay, the fee is $ 2. 50 per page for the original and $ 1. 00 per page for a copy.

2. When the court pays on behalf of an indigent defendant who is appealing in a criminal case, the fee is $ 3. 50 per page for the original and no charge for the first copy.

3. There is no charge for regular delivery to the presiding judge.

4. For other payments required from public funds: (a) regular delivery is between $ 2. 50 and $ 3. 15 per page for the original and $ 1 per page for a copy, (b) expedited delivery is between $ 3. 15 and $ 4. 25 per page for the original and $ 1. 10 per page for a copy, and (c) daily delivery is between $ 3. 75 and $ 5. 25 per page for the original and $ 1. 25 per page for a copy.

5. In all other situations: (a) regular delivery is between $ 3. 30 and $ 4. 30 per page for the original and $ 1 per page for a copy, (b) expedited delivery is between $ 4. 40 and $ 5. 40 per page for the original and $ 1. 10 per page for a copy, and (c) daily delivery is between $ 5. 50 and $ 6. 50 per page for the original and $ 1. 25 per page for a copy.

CHART COMPARING STATES

CR: eh