| Location | Santa Ana, CA |
Official Court Reporter
Salary
$124,550.40 - $131,497.60 Annually
Location
Orange County Superior Court, CA
Job Type
Full-Time Regular
Job Number
0786SG-1026
Department
Court Operations
Division
Court Reporter Services
Opening Date
10/22/2026
Closing Date
11/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Position Information
The Superior Court of California, County of Orange
is now accepting applications for:
OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
(Opportunity for experienced licensed court reporters)
DEADLINE TO APPLY
The deadline for applying for this recruitment is Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST
This recruitment is open to external candidates, internal OCSC employees, and internal OCSC promotions. The eligible list established from this recruitment will be used to fill current and future vacancies.
SALARY INFORMATION
Official Court Reporter Hourly Range: $59.88 - $63.22
Anticipated Starting Rate: $59.88
BENEFITS HIGHLIGHTS
Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (2.50% at 67 formula)
Choice of five medical plans
Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
Vacation and sick leave packages
14 paid holidays per year
Educational & professional reimbursement
Optional deferred compensation program (457 plan)
ADDITIONAL COURT REPORTER HIGHLIGHTS
Hiring Incentive - up to $10,000
Premium Pay (2.75% Real Time Certification; 8.75% Real Time Qualification) may be available when designated requirements are met.
Annual California CSR License Fee Reimbursement and Professional Development Reimbursement - up to $1,000
Court Reporter Longevity Pay
Supplemental Independent Transcript Income
TELEWORK/ON-SITE OPPORTUNITY
This position is not eligible for telework opportunities.
Opportunity Details
ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
The Orange County Superior Court was established in 1893 and maintains jurisdiction over a wide range of matters, with our flagship location being the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, with additional courthouses located in Orange (Lamoreaux), Newport Beach (Harbor), Fullerton (North), and Westminster (West), as the fifth-largest trial court in the United States and the third-largest court of general jurisdiction in California. We have more than 140 judicial officers and over 1,500 staff with an operating budget of nearly $280 million.
Our court is recognized for innovation, resource advancements, and community focus while managing over half a million case filings annually and serving a population exceeding three million. The Courts Judges, Commissioners, and employees are recognized for their high standards of achievement, integrity, modernization, and diversity. The Court is committed to ensuring equal access to court services and enhancing public confidence in the court system.
To learn more about the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, visit our homepage at www.occourts.org.
ABOUT THE POSITION
Under general supervision, an Official Court Reporter reports and transcribes the verbatim stenographic record of official court proceedings. Stenographic record is defined as using the voice method or machine method. The Official Court Reporter prepares and certifies transcripts, and at the direction of the Court, reads the record aloud in court, in accordance with applicable code sections. These functions are usually performed in the courtroom; however, the needs of the Court may require reporting to be done in judicial chambers, conference rooms, jury assembly rooms, or in rare circumstances, off-site locations.
Official Court Reporters are responsible for providing their own stenographic/computer equipment, software, and other materials per Government Code Section 68073 (f). Preparation of transcripts is accomplished outside of regular working hours. Successful applicants will be expected to provide Realtime transcription, including the ability to connect to any and all litigation support software (i.e., CaseView).
To view the full job description, please click on the following link:
OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER
Minimum Qualifications
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
Six (6) months of full-time (or equivalent) experience as a Pro Tempore or Official Court Reporter with a Superior Court; OR one (1) year of full-time (or equivalent) experience as a Certified Shorthand Reporter. Plus, computer-aided transcription capability and a Realtime certification (CRR) or Realtime capability.
REQUIRED LICENSE(S)
Passage of the State of California Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) Examinations and possession of a valid California CSR License. With an acceptable history with the CSR Board of California or the District Court of Appeal.
Possession of a valid California Drivers license, or other court-approved method of transportation, may be required for field travel and assignments.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT
Candidates are required to attach two (2) recent transcripts processed within the last six (6) months (each at least 15 pages in length): 1. Copy of a Realtime or unedited transcript. 2. Copy of a finalized or edited transcript. Have you attached both copies to this application?
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
(a) Worked as a pro tempore reporter for Orange County Superior Court.
(b) Possession of a Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification.
(c) Broad reporting experience (e.g., preliminary hearings, civil trials, criminal trials, complex litigation, complex criminal proceedings, juvenile proceedings, appeal transcripts, special transcripts, etc.)
(d) Experience in preparing daily transcripts.
(e) Prepared transcripts for the District Court of Appeal or any other appellate courts.
(f) Registered Merit Reporter certification (RMR).
(g) Realtime Reporting certification (CRR).
(h) California Certificate in Realtime Reporting (CCRR)
(i) Certified Realtime Generalist (CRG)
(j) Certified Verbatim Reporter (CVR)
(k) Certificate of Merit (CM)
(l) Realtime Verbatim Reporter (RVR)
Additional Information
APPLICATION PROCESS
All applicants are required to submit a completed online application and supplemental questionnaire. To learn more about how to create an account/application, click HERE. Résumés will not be accepted in lieu of the required application and supplemental questionnaire. Human Resources will review applications to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications; therefore, it is to your benefit to include all current and previous related work experience.
SELECTION PROCESS
STEP 1: Applications will be reviewed by Human Resources to identify candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and/or desirables. It is to your benefit to include all current and previous related work experience. When listing Court experience, please include dates and classification of each position held, if more than one. Only those who meet the minimum qualifications and desirables (if applicable) will proceed to the next step in the recruitment process.
STEP 2: Candidates will be required to provide a copy of a recent transcript (e.g., within the last six (6) months as part of the recruitment process). Those candidates passing the transcript review and an oral exam will be referred to Step 3 in the selection process.
STEP 3: Candidates who are successful in step 2 will be placed on the eligible list and may be considered for interview. Placement on the eligible list does not guarantee an interview or employment.
All candidates will be notified via email of their status at each step of the process. Additional steps in the selection process will include a local background check and a reference check.
BACKGROUND CHECK
A thorough background check will be conducted, including but not limited to work experience, education, certifications, driving record, criminal record, litigation judgment or verdict, and financial/credit information. Fingerprints of candidates are also taken as part of our background check process.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
Orange County Superior Court provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities, upon request. Please contact the Human Resources Department at HRStaffing@occourts.org if you feel that you will need a reasonable accommodation for any aspect of the selection process.
ELIGIBLE LIST
This recruitment will be used to establish an eligible list for current and future vacancies. The eligible list will remain active until the list is exhausted, or a new recruitment opens.
STATUS NOTIFICATIONS
You will be notified by email during the process of this recruitment through GovernmentJobs.com. Please check your email spam/junk folders and accept emails ending with GovernmentJobs.com and occourts.org. If your information changes, please update your profile at http://www.governmentjobs.com/.
E-VERIFY
The Superior Court of California, County of Orange participates in the E-Verify program which confirms employment eligibility of new hires.
QUESTIONS?
For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Ernest Montoya at emontoya@occourts.org. For general employment information, please click HERE.
Orange County Superior Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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Updated: 10/31/2025
INSURANCE PLANS: Employees have an option to enroll in one of five medical plans; three HMOs (Cigna Select, Cigna Choice, and Kaiser Choice) and two PPOs (Wellwise Choice or Sharewell Choice), both administered by Blue Shield. The employee contributions toward the HMO or PPO insurance vary based on plan, coverage level and participation in the annual wellness credit program. To view health plan rates and summaries of benefits and coverage, click here.
Various non-medical benefits (dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short-term disability (STD) insurance) are available and are administered by the Orange County Employees Association (OCEA).
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS: Employees have an option to enroll and contribute to a pre-tax Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) and a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA). These accounts may be used to eligible health care expenses or eligible care expenses within that plan year.
HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENT: The Court will contribute $63.04 per pay period into individual employee Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) accounts for eligible full-time employees ($31.52 per pay period for eligible part-time). This Court contribution will increase 2.5% annually each first full pay period in July.
LONG-TERM CARE: CalPERS Long-Term Care coverage is available to current and former California public employees, retirees, their spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, siblings (including stepbrothers and stepsisters), grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law between the ages of 18 and 79 when they apply. Eligible family members may apply even if the public employee or retiree who makes them eligible does not apply or is not approved for coverage. NOTICE: CalPERS has temporarily suspended open enrollment for the Long-Term Care Program due to current uncertainty in the long-term care market. Therefore, until further notice, CalPERS will no longer accept new applications for coverage at this time.
RETIREMENT: Defined Benefit, fully qualified plan based on the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (Government Code Section 31450 et. al.). Employee and Court contributions are based on several variables including age, hire date, and salary. The plan is administered by an independent agency, Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS), and has reciprocity with various California systems. Currently, eligible new employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, will be enrolled in a defined benefit retirement plan referred to as Plan U (2.5% at 67 formula). *If you were employed by an OCERS employer or reciprocal agency prior to January 1, 2013, you have less than a six-month break in service, and reciprocity is established, you may be eligible to select from two other retirement pension formula options (Plan J or Plan P). See OCERS website for more information. OCERS members are also subject to specified compensation and benefit limits as outlined here.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Optional deferred compensation 457 & Roth 457 Deferred Contribution Plans are available.
VACATION ACCRUAL: 0-3 years accrue 80 hours of vacation time per year as a full-time employee. Thereafter, 4-9 years, 120 hours per year; 10-19 years, 160 hours per year; 20 or more year, 200 hours per year. Maximum accrual of hours: 0-9 years; 240 hours; 10 or more years, 320 hours. Part-time employees accrue vacation on a prorated basis.
HOLIDAYS: 14 paid holidays per year.
SICK LEAVE: 0-3 years accrue 80 hours of sick time per year as full-time employees. After 3 years, full-time employees accrue 120 hours per year. Part-time employees accrue sick leave on a prorated basis. Unlimited accrual. Some sick leave maybe converted to cash or vacation time.
COMP TIME: All employees receive compensatory time every March. Full- time employees receive 6 hours and part-time employees receive 3 hours.
ANNUAL PERSONAL DAY: All full-time employees have the option to take a paid Annual Personal Day on their date of birth. If the date of birth falls on a weekend or holiday, the Annual Personal Day will be observed on the closest business day. Part-time employees receive their Annual Personal Day on a prorated basis.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: 5 days of paid leave per qualifying instance.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE: Court pays into county administered insurance fund.
OVERTIME: Court pays overtime (time and a half) for all hours worked over 40 hours per week, even for exempt employees with the exception of Official Court Reporters. Court Technology employees earn overtime where overtime is in excess of 80 hours worked per pay period.
WORKERS COMPENSATION: Administered by the Judicial Councils, third party administrator.
EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT: Court reimburses up to $3,500 per year of tuition for approved, necessary courses, subject to availability of funds.
FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT AND FORGIVENESS PROGRAMS: Employees of the Court may be eligible for Federal Student Loan Repayment and Loan Forgiveness Programs.
BILINGUAL PAY: Available at additional $0.58/hour for selected classes in selected positions.
EXCEPTIONAL BILINGUAL PAY: Available for specific classes at a rate of $1.15/hour in selected positions.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP): Court offers EAP confidential services to assist employees with marital, family, emotional, legal, financial, and chemical dependency problems. This service is offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
DISCOUNT PROGRAMS: There are numerous discount programs available to Court employees. These include, but are not limited to discounts on hearing aids, pet insurance, local attractions, technology products, wellness services and gym memberships.
ONLINE PRIVACY BENEFIT: Employees may elect to enroll in a voluntary online privacy protection plan provided by IronWall360. This benefit helps protect employee's online privacy by searching the Internet and locating any personal information and making sure it is removed.
Provisions are subject to terms: Memorandum of Understanding.
01
INSTRUCTIONS: The information you provide on this questionnaire will be evaluated and used to determine your eligibility to participate in the next phase of the selection process and may also be used in a competitive evaluation of qualifications. Be as specific as possible and include all information requested. If you do not have experience in an area, please answer "N/A". Statements such as "see application," will not be accepted in lieu of a response. All employers referenced on this questionnaire must be listed on your application. Do you understand these instructions?
02
I understand that a résumé MAY NOT be submitted in lieu of the employment application (or completion of the work history section of the application). A résumé may be submitted in addition to the employment application, but applicants are selected for an interview and/or testing based primarily on information supplied by the application and supplemental forms. Do you understand these instructions?
03
RESIDENCY/WORK ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT: I understand that I may live outside of the State of California while participating in a recruitment process, however if am selected for a position, I must reside within the State to be eligible for Court employment. In addition, work performed while working for the Court, even remote work, must be done within the State of California. I also understand that the Orange County Superior Court does not provide US visa or employment sponsorship. Do you understand this requirement?
04
You are required to attach two (2) recent transcripts processed within the last six (6) months (each at least 15 pages in length): 1. Copy of a Realtime or unedited transcript. 2. Copy of a finalized or edited transcript. Have you attached both copies to this application?
05
Please select all that apply to you:
06
Please enter the number, issuing agency, issue date, and expiration date of your Certified Shorthand Reporters (CSR) license issued by the State of California. Enter "N/A" if not applicable.
07
If you have passed the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) OR another comparable examination, please state the name of the exam and the date you passed the exam. Enter "N/A" if not applicable.
08
Do you have Computer Aided Transcription (CAT) capability?
09
You are expected to provide Realtime transcription. Are you Realtime capable?
10
Do you possess any of the following certificates or field experience? Please select all that apply.
11
If you selected any of the above, please provide the certificate number, issuing agency, issue date, and expiration date. Enter "N/A" if not applicable.
12
Please briefly describe the types of litigation support software you have utilized. If you have no experience in this area, please indicate N/A.
13
If you have experience preparing transcripts for the District Court of Appeal or any other appellate courts, please indicate the name of the Court(s), as well as the type of transcripts you prepared and the month/year of your assignment(s). If you have no experience in this area, please indicate N/A.
14
Do you have experience with any of the following equipment? Please select all that apply.
15
If you have worked for a Court, please include which Court, County, your position, and dates of employment. Enter "N/A" if not applicable.
16
Describe any reporting experience in the following areas (include approximate dates): Preliminary Hearings, Civil Trials, Criminal Trials, Complex Litigation, Family Law Proceedings, Juvenile Proceedings, and Special Transcripts. If you have no experience in this area, please indicate N/A.
17
Please describe any freelance experience. Include the following information: Name of employer or agency, dates employed, types of proceedings (Indicate if no freelance experience). If you have no experience in this area, please indicate N/A.
Required Question
Employer Superior Court of Orange County
Address 700 Civic Center Drive West
Human Resources, P.O. Box 1994
Santa Ana, California, 92701-1994
Phone (657) 622-6878