Official Court Reporter

📍 Sherman, Texas · 🏛 U.S. Courts · 💰 $103,772–$119,337 per year · 🎓 CR 1–4 · 🧭 Miscellaneous Administration And Program (0301) · ⏳ Closes Feb 1, 2027 · 82 days left · 🗓 Posted Feb 2, 2026
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About this job

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas is a public service organization focused on providing exceptional customer service to the court, members of the legal community and the general public. Currently, we are seeking an innovative and experienced individual to serve as an Official Court Reporter in the Sherman division. There are seven offices within the Eastern District of Texas: Beaumont, Lufkin, Marshall, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana, and Tyler.

Duties

Official Court Reporters are responsible for recording court proceedings in court and in chambers, for producing requested transcripts, and for filing required copies of transcripts with the Clerk of Court. More details will be provided during interviews. Duties include: Attend and record verbatim reporting of proceedings held before the judicial officers and for the transcription of those proceedings upon request. Ability to read back all or any portions of the court record, to perform well under pressure, to produce transcripts within strict time limitations, and to work as part of a team of reporters for the judges of this court. Knowledge, skill and ability to produce accurate, simultaneous real time transcription utilizing computer-aided translation. Familiarity with and adherence to all requirements of the Court Reporter Management Plan for the district. Determine billing and formats which comply with the Judicial Conference requirements. Deliver and/or mail official transcripts prepared. Certify and file with the Clerk of Court original records and a copy of transcripts prepared. Maintain accurate and legible records which are subject to audits. Prepare and file all reports required by the Administrative Office. Respond timely to official correspondence. Compliance with all administrative duties assigned by his or her manager and the court. Responsible for providing and maintaining his or her own court compatible equipment. Travel will be required to cover court proceedings at other divisional offices within the district. Perform other duties as assigned. Official court reporters are placed on a regular tour of duty that requires their presence in the courthouse during core working hours of a minimum of eighty (80) hours per period. This position requires the ability to work extended court hours.

Qualifications

Required minimum qualifications for level 1: Candidate must possess at least four years of prime court reporting experience in the freelance field of service or in other courts, or a combination thereof; must have passed the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) Examination administered by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) or passed an equivalent qualifying examination. For pay levels above level 1, the candidate must meet qualifications for level 1 and the following: Level 2- Must possess a Registered Merit Reporter Certificate from the NCRA. Level 3- Must have successfully completed the Certified Realtime Reporter exam offered by the NCRA or an equivalent exam. Level 4- Must (1) possess a Registered Merit Reporter Certificate from the NCRA and (2) have successfully completed the Certified Realtime Reporter exam offered by the NCRA or equivalent exam. Realtime certification is preferred, however, candidates capable of providing simultaneous reporting who are actively working toward Realtime certification will also be considered.

Requirements

Applicants must be United States citizens or eligible to work in the United States. All application information is subject to verification. The selected candidate will be subject to a background check as a condition of employment and will be hired provisionally pending successful completion of the background check. Unsatisfactory results may result in termination of employment. Court employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Federal Judicial Employees. This position is subject to mandatory electronic funds transfer for payroll direct deposit.

Evaluations

Required minimum qualifications for level 1: Candidate must possess at least four years of prime court reporting experience in the freelance field of service or in other courts, or a combination thereof; must have passed the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) Examination administered by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) or passed an equivalent qualifying examination. For pay levels above level 1, the candidate must meet qualifications for level 1 and the following: Level 2- Must possess a Registered Merit Reporter Certificate from the NCRA. Level 3- Must have successfully completed the Certified Realtime Reporter exam offered by the NCRA or an equivalent exam. Level 4- Must (1) possess a Registered Merit Reporter Certificate from the NCRA and (2) have successfully completed the Certified Realtime Reporter exam offered by the NCRA or equivalent exam. Realtime certification is preferred, however, candidates capable of providing simultaneous reporting who are actively working toward Realtime certification will also be considered.

How to apply

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter (including a narrative statement of your background), a Judicial Branch Federal Employment (AO 78) application with Optional Background Information (questions 19, 20, and 21 completed), and a resume. The cover letter should be addressed to: Diana Velez, Human Resources Manager William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse 211 West Ferguson Street, Room 106 Tyler, Texas 75702 An application form can be obtained on our web page at: http://www.txed.uscourts.gov/ . All documents should be submitted as a single pdf with the reference number (2026-3Official Court Reporter) in the subject line via e-mail to: hr@txed.uscourts.gov. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applications will be screened for qualifications and only the most qualified applicants will be contacted and selected for a personal interview. Skill and knowledge testing may be administered to candidates who progress beyond the initial interview process. Expenses associated with interviews or relocation will not be reimbursed.

Applications are handled only on the official announcement. This page is a readable copy of the public announcement data — the official version controls if anything differs.

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Required documents

Qualified applicants should send a cover letter (including a narrative statement of your background), a Judicial Branch Federal Employment (AO 78) application with Optional Background Information (questions 19, 20, and 21 completed), and a resume.

What to expect next

Applications will be screened for qualifications and only the most qualified applicants will be contacted and selected for a personal interview. Skill and knowledge testing may be administered to candidates who progress beyond the initial interview process.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this Official Court Reporter job pay?

The announcement lists a salary of $103,772–$119,337 per year (CR 1–4).

When is the last day to apply?

Applications close on Feb 1, 2027 — 82 days from today.

Where is this job located?

This position is located in Sherman, Texas with the U.S. Courts.

How do I apply?

Applications are submitted through the official announcement on USAJobs. Use the Apply button on this page to go to the official posting — this site never takes applications itself.

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Data: USAJobs (U.S. Office of Personnel Management), retrieved 2026-11-11 · Announcement DE-12886410-26-AB · Official announcement. FederalJobs is unofficial and is not affiliated with OPM or the agency.
Official Court Reporter
Feb 1, 2027 deadlineApply