What is the role of a court reporter in legal proceedings?

The role of a court reporter is primarily to transcribe spoken words into written form during legal proceedings. This function is critical to maintaining an accurate and official record of everything that is said during court hearings, trials, and other judicial activities. The transcript produced by the court reporter serves as an essential document for appeals and for ensuring that all parties involved have access to an accurate account of the proceedings.

This task requires the court reporter to have specialized training in shorthand, typing, or other methods of recording spoken dialogue quickly and accurately. The official transcripts they prepare can later be used by judges, attorneys, and parties to reference what occurred in court. This is fundamental to the judicial process as it preserves the integrity of the record and allows for transparency in legal proceedings.

The other choices describe roles or functions that are not part of a court reporter's responsibilities. A legal advisor typically offers guidance on legal matters, summarizing legal documents serves public information needs, and assisting in jury deliberations involves different duties altogether, none of which relate to the core function of transcribing spoken words in court.