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A Publication of the Alabama Court Reporters Association Volume 24, No. 2 • Summer 2007

pring is here, and Summer is near. It is a good time to get out and enjoy the changing of

the seasons. I want everyone to put down July 19th, 20th, and 21st for our Summer Convention which will be held in Opelika, Alabama. This is an excellent opportunity for those that need CLE’s to get them. Diane Battles, our President-elect, has done a superb job in planning this event. For those that play golf, you will not want to miss out on playing the Grand National course. Please get your reservations in as soon as you get the material in the mail. We only have so many rooms reserved, so get your reservations in early.

You should have received a letter from Kathryn Sharpe, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, asking you to sell 10 chances on a $1,000 gift certificate for $5 each with the Carnival Cruise Lines that can be used for the winner’s choice. This drawing will be held at our Summer Convention in Opelika on Friday, July 20th, 2007. Please help us in this fundraiser to help defray the cost of our convention speakers.

Diana Battles and I went to AOC recently and discussed the concerns of court reporters in Alabama. Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb is sending out a questionnaire and asking three questions on how we can help the court system. We gave our suggestions to her. She will be sending this out to all court officials in the system in order to try to better serve the public.

Licensing is finally here in Alabama after 30 plus years of hard work. It is finally a reality. There are many reporters to thank who spearheaded this long-time goal that ACRA has been working toward. I remember work-ing on this when I first became a member back in the late 1970’s and thank those that persevered like past President Suzanne Frazier, past President Alan Peacock, Mary Hicks, Jeanna Boggs, Sheree Cater, our current board members, past board members, and many more volunteers who stayed in Montgomery to make this a reality. Please be sure to go to our Web site, alcra.org,

download the application, and send in two checks, one for the $50 application fee and one for $100 for the yearly license fee. This fee was decided upon by your new Alabama Board of Court Reporting which is now operational. You may go to the ABCR website, and click on the “Rules” tab, and read the rules for the licensing. The application is due by June 1st. Also, it is time for dues again. Please send in your check to our member-ship chairperson, Julia Isenhower, or you may choose to pay by Paypal by going online to our website.

At the recent Boot Camp held at Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, NCRA presented the 2007 Legislative Award and trophy to Sheree Cater, Mary Hicks, Suzanne Frazier, Alan Peacock, Parian Holderfield, and Jeanna Boggs. They were presented an American Flag which was flown at the Capitol in Washington. My hat is off to these reporters for all the long hours and time they have given in service for this worthy cause.

We were all saddened by the recent death of William Paul Glass, RPR, of National Court Reporting Company in Birmingham, Alabama who lost his battle with brain cancer. I went to see Paul over at Lakeshore Hospital as soon as I heard about it, and he was upbeat like he always was, even when the odds were not in his favor. Paul went to court reporting school in Plainview, Texas at Mrs. Lippert’s Court Reporting School and came to work in Birmingham some 50 plus years ago. I first met Paul in the 1970’s when he was in the City Federal Building in Birmingham. I can always remember Paul smoking that big cigar in his office and making me feel comfortable when I was a young student asking so many questions. He inspired me to go to court reporting school. Paul has trained dozens of court reporters in the Birmingham area who later opened their own firms and became successful. He will be missed by all that knew him.

I have just received word that Governor Bob Riley has appointed Deanna Johnson, CSR, RPR, CRI,CPE, FAPR, to replace the late William Paul Glass. Deanna served as a freelance court reporter until she took over the

For The RecordFROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT

From the desk of the President continues on page 11.

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ACRA EXECUTIVE BOARD 2006-2007PRESIDENT

Randall E. Murphree, CSR801 North Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard

Criminal Justice Center - Room 406Birmingham, AL 35203

Office: 205-325-4867 • Home: 205-274-7249email: [email protected]

PRESIDENT-ELECTDiana L. Battles, CSR, RPR

1504 Country Club Drive, S.W.Jacksonville, AL 36265


VICE PRESIDENTJulia S. Isenhower, CSR, RPR

26626 Dean Court SouthDaphne, AL 36526

Office/Home: 251-626-8062email: [email protected]

TREASURERKathryn L. Hicks, CSR, RPR

801 North Richard Arrington Jr. BoulevardCriminal Justice Center - Room 509

Birmingham, AL 35203Office: 205-325-5935 • Home: 205-425-6798

email: [email protected]

SECRETARYSheree W. Cater, CSRPost Office Box 805

Troy, AL 36081Office: 334-566-1307 • Home: 334-569-1825

email: [email protected]

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENTAlan Peacock, CSR, RPR, RMR, CRR, CBC

1960 Old Government StreetMobile, AL 36606

Office/Home: 251-476-6327email: [email protected]

DIRECTORSDISTRICT I

Mary Frances Hicks, CSR, RPR3404 Blackberry LaneNorthport, AL 35473


DISTRICT IIStacy Littleton, CSR

25 West 11th Street, Suite 320Anniston, AL 36201


DISTRICT IIIGreta H. Duckett, CSR, RPR

Post Office Box 1667Montgomery, AL 36102


DISTRICT IVKathryn W. Sharpe, CSR

Post Office Box 846Andalusia, AL 36420


1. Rush through the door at the last minute and start the proceedings without introducing yourself. Everyone knows an important person like you anyway and appreciates that you were able to show up at all.

2. Don’t bother to enunciate clearly or project your voice. Reporters can read your lips. They especially like it if you mumble when reading from documents. It is good for their ego, as it makes them feel multilingual.

3. For similar reasons, always remember to start speaking the moment the reporter begins marking exhibits, changing paper, etc., as it makes her feel ambidextrous.

4. Talk as fast as you can, preferably outshouting the other lawyers.This makes you seem even more important than you really are.

5. Ignore the reporter when she asks you to repeat or spell a name. If you know what you said, then she should too.

6. Do not aggravate the reporter by asking if she needs a break or a drink of water. These things are not necessities since reporting duties are mostly automatic, similar to the func-tions of a robot.

elieve it or not, summer is at hand. So is our annual business meeting and summer convention. It’s hard to fathom how quickly the last few months have gone by, but it’s time to set aside the dates on your sched-

ule and calendar to plan for July 19-21, 2007. We’ll be meeting at the The Marriott Lodge and Conference Center at the Grand National Golf Course in Opelika, Alabama. The course is part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail and is billed as having “an advanced conference environment with award-winning championship golf courses in a world-class setting.”

Plans are in the works for seminars to cover punctuation, financial and retire-ment planning, as well as how to model professional best practices. Updates on the progress of the Alabama Board of Court Reporting will be provided. An email and snail mail will be going out soon with convention registration and hotel lodging details. If you have not received this information by the time you’re reading this, please contact me.

As we travel through life both personally and professionally, there are always tasks we’ve completed and another waiting to be started. At times we just need a little guidance to move us in the right direction. Other times we need a firmer hand on our shoulders giving us a nudge to make a decision. In other circumstances there’s a need for someone to pull us along and get us going. One of the goals of this summer’s convention will be to help you answer the question that will always surface throughout our lives: “So now, what next?”

So come to Opelika prepared to network with your colleagues, to learn to plan for whatever your next step may be, and – oh, yeah – to have FUN!

Summer Conventionis on the way!

by Diana Battles, CSR, RPR • President-Electis

Rules for Keeping Court Reporters Happyby Greta Duckett, CSR, RPR • Co-chair, Website Committee

Rules for Keeping Court Reporters Happy continues on page 11.

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Diana L. Battles, CSR, RPR, President: Diana grew up in Miami, Florida, and attended court reporting school there from 1974-1976. She was hired by the Dade County Public Safety Department before completing school. She worked with the homicide division, typing police reports while officers dictated them and reporting witness statements at homicide scenes.

Diana moved north to Alabama in 1978. She was hired as the official court reporter for Circuit Judge Malcolm Street, Jr., in 1979, serving in that position for nearly 25 years until her retirement in February 2005 as a supernumerary court reporter with the State of Alabama.

Not willing to just enjoy her retirement, she accepted a position with Jacksonville State University, where she serves as secretary for the Department of Secondary Education. Diana is still a reporter, however, in that she utilizes her reporting skills for reporting and transcribing faculty meetings for the Department of Secondary Education, as well as various committees within the department. Diana has also reported classroom instruc-tion for courses which will be adapted to online instruction.

Diana has served ACRA since 1985. She has been the District 2 Director, Secretary, and Vice-President. She has served on numerous committees, such as Nominations, Auditing, Convention Planning, Publications, Legislation, and Scholarship.

Diana is currently living in Jacksonville, Alabama, with her husband, Clay. Their daughter, Katie, is a sophomore at Jacksonville State University. Diana and Clay enjoy riding motorcycles. They say it’s a great way to relax. Diana brings a wealth of experi-ence and insight to the position of ACRA President.

Julia S. Isenhower, CSR, RPR, President-Elect: Julia is a native of Century, Florida. She became interested in court reporting through her mother’s best friend, Pat McNeel, an official court reporter in Brewton, Alabama. Julia is a graduate of the University of Alabama. She attended Brown College of Court Reporting in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon graduation, she moved to Montgomery, Alabama.Julia began her court reporting career with Montgomery Reporting Services in Montgomery, and then moved to Dunn, King, Kilpatrick & Livingston in 1984. While freelancing with that firm, she obtained her RPR and began serving ACRA with the encouragement of Jenny Dunn, who was then serving on the ACRA Board. Julia has been actively involved in ACRA ever since, serving on several committees before becoming a board member and serving as Treasurer and Vice-President.

Julia followed her wonderful husband, Dwight, to Baldwin County in 1995. They settled in Daphne with their daughter, Anna, who is just completing her freshman year in college. Sammy, who Julia says is the sweetest dog on the planet, rounds out the Isenhower family.

In South Alabama, Julia started working with Angie Coxe and Coastal Reporting. She enjoys a great working relationship with several reporters in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. She started Isenhower Reporting in 1996. Julia states that before she was

2007-2008 Nominations Report

married, had a child, and became an officer in ACRA, she used to have hobbies. The hobbies she hopes to soon have time for include sewing, hiking, and tennis. Julia indi-cates she does find time for Alabama football, however.

Julia is looking forward to her year as President-Elect and encourages the ACRA mem-bership to join in making this the best year ever for ACRA.

Sheree Cater, CSR, Vice-President:Sheree is a Prince Institute graduate. Upon receipt of her degree from Prince, she joined Reagan Reporters in Montgomery. She was hired as the official court reporter for Judge Robert W. Barr, Circuit Court Judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit, in 2004.

Sheree has served as District 3 Director, Secretary, and has supported ACRA through her service as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, chairman of the Pro Bono Committee, and has been assisting with ACRA conferences and conventions since 2000 when she was still a student at Prince. Sheree is very active in the ongoing work of ACRA and will continue to be an asset to the Executive Board. She has represented ACRA well at NCRA’s Boot Camp on two different occasions.

Sheree and her husband, Brian, live in Greenville, Alabama, with their two children. Mary Hicks, CSR, RPR, Secretary: Mary is a Tuscaloosa native, but was raised in Gadsden. She attended Jacksonville State University for a short time and then pursued a court reporting career at Gadsden State. She joined Bain & Associates as a freelancer upon graduation from Gadsden, where she worked for a while. In 1996, Mary returned to Tuscaloosa and became a Special Roving Reporter for Tuscaloosa County, serving for over nine years. Since January 1, 2006, she has been the official reporter for Judge Steve Wilson.

Ted Hicks, Mary’s husband, is an official court reporter for Fayette, Lamar, and Pickens Counties; so they have lots of great “war” stories to share once their children, Ford, who is 15, and Thomas, who is five, have settled in for the night. Their other two family members are two Welsh Corgis: Lola and John-John.

Mary is a tireless campaigner whose hard work and diligence as a member of the Legislative Core Committee was instrumental in development of the CCR bill and passage of that legislation toward ensuring the professional level of our court reporting profession. She ably represented ACRA at NCRA’s Legislative Boot Camp in 2006 and 2007.

In her spare time, Mary enjoys reading and traveling. Mary says she looks forward to moving up to the ACRA Executive Board and serving ACRA as Secretary.

Kathryn L. Hicks, CSR, RPR, Treasurer:Kathy has a BS and MS from the University of Southern Mississippi in Secondary Education. She was a home economics teacher in Mississippi and Alabama for six years, but elected to make a career change in 1985. With the encouragement of her hus-band, Rob, she investigated court reporting and found her niche. She enrolled in Prince Institute in Montgomery, where she graduated and went on to freelance in

by Suzanne B. Frazier, CSR, RPR, Nominations Committee Chair

he Nominations Committee (Jeanna Boggs, CSR; Karen R. Drinkard, CSR; and Suzanne B. Frazier, CSR, RPR) recommend the following ACRA members for office for the 2007-2008 year. Each is a member in good standing and has promised to be faithful in the completion of their assigned duties for the Association.

Greta Duckett, CSR, RPRDIRECTOR DISTRICT 3

(completing second year of two-year term of office)

Diana L. Battles, CSR, RPR • PRESIDENT

Julia S. Isenhower, CSR, RPR • PRESIDENT-ELECT

Sheree Cater, CSR • VICE PRESIDENT

Mary Hicks, CSR, RPR • SECRETARY

Kathryn L. Hicks, CSR, RPR • TREASURER

Tammy Clark August, CSR, RPR, RMR, CRR, CCP DIRECTOR DISTRICT 1

(nominated to complete the second year of Mary Hicks’ two-year term of office)

Jennifer L. Kissic, CSRDIRECTOR DISTRICT 2

Linda K. McSwain, CSR, RPRDIRECTOR DISTRICT 4

OFFICER SERVING CURRENT TERM:

NOMINEES:

2007-2008 Nominations Report continues on page 4.

NOMINEE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

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Dothan, Alabama, for a couple of years. Kathy then became a Special Roving Reporter in Jefferson County, where she has been for 18 years.

ACRA benefited from Kathy’s organizational skills when she joined the Board sev-eral years ago. She has served ACRA as District 1 Director, Secretary, and co-editor of For The Record prior to taking office last year as Treasurer. Kathy says she has enjoyed learning more about ACRA and is looking forward to serving another term as Treasurer.

Kathy and Rob have been married for 24 years. They are active in their church, Discovery United Methodist Church in Hoover, Alabama. They also have three chil-dren of the four-legged variety: Sweet Pea, Sadie, and Snowball. Kathy has a large extended family and has lots of nieces and nephews and enjoys spoiling each and every one. Rob and Kathy enjoy entertaining, gardening, dancing and camping. Rob is a great cook, by the way; so no matter what they’re doing, there’s good food and good fellowship. Tammy Clark August, CSR, RPR, RMR, RDR, CRR, CCP, CBC, Director,District 1:Tammy grew up in Hamilton, Alabama. After graduating from Hamilton High School in 1983, Tammy attended court reporting school at Gadsden State Community College, graduating in 1985. Tammy freelanced for a short period of time in Savannah, Georgia. She later relocated to Birmingham and began working for Bain & Associates. In 1987, Tammy moved to Florence where she started her own freelance firm, Clark Court Reporting. Tammy has been married to her husband, Alan, for 17 years.

Tammy has past experience as an ACRA district director and brings a wealth of experi-ence and knowledge to her position.

Jennifer L. Kissic, CCR, Director, District 2:Jennifer is a native of Talladega, having lived there her entire life. She attended Gadsden State Community College immediately after finishing high school and gradu-ated in July 2001. Jennifer then went to work for Tyler, Eaton, Morgan, Nichols & Pritchett in Birmingham. She worked for that firm until November 2003 when she took the position as official court reporter for the Honorable Julian M. King, Presiding Circuit Judge of Talladega County, Alabama. Jennifer and her husband, Jamie, have been married for six years this month (June). However, they were high school sweethearts, beginning when they were both 14 years old. Jennifer and Jamie have one beautiful daughter, Layla Madilyn, who is 16 months old. Jennifer has served ACRA several years in the position of Student Mentor Committee Chairperson and is an NCRA member. Jennifer is very active as a member of Sycamore Baptist Church. Jennifer indicates she is eager to fulfill her duties and obligations as District 1 Director.

Linda K. McSwain, CSR, RPR, Director, District 4:Linda was born and raised in Texas where she received her degree in court reporting from Arlington Court Reporting College in Arlington, Texas. Linda worked in Texas before relocating to Mobile, Alabama, in 1999 along with her husband, Roderick. Linda met Roderick while she was in her 180-speed level in court reporting school. Roderick, a native of Mobile, has been by her side through thick and thin.

Linda and Roderick have two sons: Roderick LaKeith, who recently graduated from Mercer University with a master’s degree in psychology; and Joshua, who is 11 years old and active in everything under the sun and keeps Linda very busy. Linda and Roderick are in the process of adopting a four-year-old little girl by the name of Kayla Grace. Linda shares that Kayla Grace is a joy to their entire family.

Linda states that when she moved to Mobile, she had the pleasure of working for Shelagh McClain for about six months before receiving a job as a roving court reporter at the courthouse in Mobile. Linda was a rover for six months before accepting the position of official court reporter for Judge Ferrill D. McRae. Linda has been working as a freelance reporter since December 2004.

Linda states that although she misses her home state of Texas, she is aware of how good Alabama has been to her. Linda is pleased to accept the nomination as District 4 Director and is looking forward to serving ACRA in the capacity of being a bridge between the ACRA members in District 4 and the Association.

Patricia D. “Pat” Higgins, CSR, RPR, Parliamentarian:Pat is a graduate of Prince Institute in Montgomery. She joined the freelance firm of Dunn, King, Kilpatrick & Livingston in 1985, where Jenny Dunn immediately put her to work in ACRA. Pat became the owner of Dunn, King & Associates in 2001.

Pat served on the original CSR Committee and has continued her belief in and support of licensure. Pat has served on committees for Scholarship, Ways & Means, Auditing, Convention Planning, Public Relations, and others.

Pat has held several offices on the ACRA Board of Directors and served as ACRA’s president for 1996-97. Pat was awarded the ACRA Distinguished Service Award in 2001 and has remained active in ACRA activities. Upon election to the office of Parliamentarian, Pat will begin serving ACRA in her second three-year term of office in that position. Pat attributes her knowledge of parliamentary procedures to the fact she has been around “for so long.”

Although Pat is proud to be the principal in Dunn, King, & Associates, she considers her proudest achievement being “Grammy” to her precious grandchildren, Jack and Hannah Kate.

2007-2008 Nominations Report continued from page 3.

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Do you want to receive notices and emails from ACRA? You must keep your information in our database current. If you have any information changes, please go to www.alcra.org and update your listing in the roster, or email [email protected].

KEEP YOURINFORMATION CURRENT!

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ary Hicks and I attended the NCRA Legislative Boot Camp in Washington, D.C., February 25-27, 2007. I do have to say it was quite an experience. It was such a privi-lege to represent all court reporters of Alabama. This was our second year attending the camp. The second time around was even more beneficial than the first. Thank you, ACRA, for sending us once again to D.C.

Senate bill 675 was the main reason we went to D.C. This bill provides competitive grants to court reporting schools in order to increase enrollment and train captioners and CART provid-ers. By January of 2006, 100% of all new English-speaking broadcasting was to be closed captioned, as mandated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Needless to say, these requirements are not being met.

For the first two days of boot camp we were divided into groups. Each group consisted of mostly upcoming leaders for state associations. We made so many new friends. While in these groups, we learned all about the bill process. On the third day, off to the Hill we went. We were fortunate to meet with our Senators and Representatives. We actually SCHMOOZED one of our Representatives into being a co-sponsor for the bill, which was a great accomplishment.

If you haven’t already heard, something else really exciting happened while we were there. During the luncheon, Reesa Parker, NCRA President, awarded ACRA with the Legislative Activist of the Year award. Mary and I were honored to accept this award on behalf of ACRA. And I must say, I wish those of you who played such a vital role in the passing of the CCR bill in 2006 could have been there to accept the award. We were presented with an American flag that was flown over the United States Capitol for ACRA at the request of Senator Jeff Sessions, upon the recognition of 2007 Legislative Activist of the Year, presented by the National Court Reporters Association. Along with the flag was a bronze eagle trophy. These items will be on display at the upcoming convention at Opelika.

Thanks once again for giving Mary and I the opportunity to attend NCRA Legislative Boot Camp for a second time. I believe we’ve had our feel for it, that’s for sure. By the way, we learned how to SCHMOOZE like never before!

By Greta H. Duckett, CSR, RPR

NCRA Legistlative Boot Camp

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sually, a court reporter needs several weeks after a trial to prepare a transcript for lawyers.

But a team of court reporters is getting a boost from technology this week so they can provide transcripts almost immediately to lawyers in a civil trial in Madison County Circuit Court.

“The judge and the lawyers will get a daily transcript of the testimony,” said Tammy Hastings, court reporter for Circuit Judge Billy Bell.

Despite Huntsville’s high-tech image, the use of this type of technology sets a precedent in Madison County. “Daily copy was used in the O.J. Simpson trial years ago,” Hastings said. “This is the first time that it has been used in this courthouse.”

The team includes Hastings; Parian Holderfield, loaned by Circuit Judge Karen Hall; and Shannon Ball, on loan from Circuit Court in Scottsboro. All three are certified court reporters. The procedure requires three court reporters, Hastings said. One reporter records the words spoken in court with a steno-type machine. The symbols from the stenotype machine are relayed to a computer and appear as text on the screen.

A second court reporter edits the words that appear on the screen, and the third court reporter proof-reads the copy. The finished copy is ready a short time later. “The lawyers requested daily copy so they can use the tran-scripts to prepare for the next day or for use during the trial,” Hastings said.

The Huntsville (Alabama) Times Technology speeds court transcripts • Judge, lawyers getting daily copy of testimony in case

Thursday, April 12, 2007

The lawyers are trying a lawsuit filed by a Huntsville man in 2003 against Ford Motor Co. The trial started Monday before Circuit Judge Bruce E. Williams.

The suit says Hugh Frank Green was driving west on U.S. 72 near Madison with his wife, Heather, on April 14, 2003, in their 2000 Ford Explorer. A 1990 Volkswagen Jetta crossed the median and struck the Explorer in the driver’s side door, the suit says.

Green lost control of the Explorer, which veered off the road and rolled over three times, according to court papers. Green suffered inju-ries that required plastic surgery.

Attorneys for Green - Christopher Glover, Benjamin Hogan, Brett Turnbull and Allen Brinkley - say the Explorer had a weak roof that was inadequate to protect people in a roll-over wreck. In that type of wreck, the roof becomes an injury-causing mechanism, they said. Green and his lawyers are seeking com-pensatory and punitive damages.

Alan Thomas, an attorney for Ford, told a jury in his opening statement Tuesday that the Explorer’s roof structure exceeded standards required by the federal government. He said those standards are the strictest in the world. The safety record of the Explorer exceeds those for cars and other compact sports utility vehicles, Thomas said.

The trial is expected to last two weeks.

by David Holden • Times Staff Writer [email protected]

The Huntsville (A

labama) T

imes

Thursday, A

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know everyone is so glad that summer is finally here.

Well, I am happy to report that I have recently purged my stu-dent-mentor list. I had several students from Gadsden State send in forms, and I have assigned them to a mentor. I would like to thank Jenny Steapleton at Gadsden State for her assis-tance in this regard. She was very helpful by getting more students involved in the mentoring program and letting me know if students had quit or graduated.

There are 17 students and 24 reporters currently involved in the mentoring program. There are still 7 mentors that are in need of a student. I am presently looking for a mentor for an online student who lives in the Huntsville area. Please contact me via E-mail if you are willing to help this student out.

I would like to express my appreciation again to everyone involved in this program, both the mentors and the students.

Jennifer L. KissicACRA Student Mentor Committee Chairperson

Hello, Everybody!he Alabama Board of Court Reporting is now beginning the licensure procedure for reporters in Alabama. Please go to the

ABCR website at www.abcr.alabama.gov for the complete rules and regulations.

The Alabama Board of Court Reporting has certified Rules and Regulations and adopted an application for licensure. The Application Forms and Instructions are now available on the ABCR website under the Forms tab. The options for applying are as follows:

• Licensure by Work Experience (grandfathering option for those employed by June 1, 2006, in the practice of court reporting in Alabama and applying for Licensure by October 1, 2007.)

• Licensure by Credential (grandfathering option to ACRA CSR Members as of June 1, 2006, and applying for Licensure by June 1, 2007)

• Temporary Licensure (employed after June 1, 2006)

• Licensure by Reciprocity (licensed in another state)

• Licensure by Examination

Certified Court Reporter (CCR)

licensure

9

IN THE NEWS

Finally....She is here. Kate Frances Kilpatrick was born Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 8:25am. Laurie did have a c-section and was in the hospital Until Saturday. Good news is she has plenty of narcotics to survive the next couple of weeks. Kate is very sweet and of course beautiful. Everyone is healthy and adjusting well. Big brothers are happy to have her here.

Love, Laurie, John, Owen & Henry Kilpatrick

dTiffany & Jere Beasley had a beautiful baby girl, Florence Mae Beasley, born April 5, 2007, weighing in at 8 pounds 8 ounces and 21 1⁄2 inches long. Congratulations!!!

Family and Friends of the late Mary F. Lambert are proud to announce the 2007

Mary F. LambertCourt Reporter Scholarship

At Gadsden State Community CollegeGadsden, Alabama

A perpetual scholarship created in 2006

To support this worthy effort with your gift or forinformation, call 256-549-8240 or 256-549-8242 or write:

The Mary F. Lambert Scholarship FundGadsden State Community College

P.O. Box 227Gadsden, Alabama 35902-0227

Sharron S. Jones

2007 WinnerMary Lambert

Scholarship Winner

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directorship of Gadsden State Community College School of Court Reporting. Deanna had to retire early in order to take care of her mother who became ill and recently passed away. Deanna has served on and chaired numerous com-mittees of NCRA and ACRA and is past chair of the National Court Reporters Foundation.

If you are a new member or an old member and have not been involved, you need to get involved. This summer is a good time for those people to sign up at our convention and serve on the many committees that we have. We have plenty of room for everyone. We need new ideas and suggestions in order to keep this

organization going strong. See you at the Convention!

Greta Duckett, CSR, RPR, Completing second year of two-year term as Director, District 3Greta joined Edmondson Reporting in Birmingham, Alabama, after graduat-ing from Prince Institute in January 1995. She returned to Montgomery in September 1995 and went to work with Dunn, King & Associates, where she stayed nearly ten years. She was hired as the official court reporter for Judge Patricia Warner, Circuit Court Judge for Montgomery County, Alabama, in January 2005, where she currently serves. She also serves as a DigitalCat trainer for Stenovations.

Greta and her husband, Brad, live in Montgomery. Her extended family is located in Montgomery too. She and her sister, Karla, make habanero hot sauce and pepper jelly, which they market under the name of Las Hermanas (translated Two Sisters). Greta is an avid gardener and loves to cook.

In addition to serving as District 3 Director, ACRA is fortunate to have Greta’s expertise as a webmaster for ACRA’s website (www.alcra.org).

2007-2008 Nominations ReportContinued from page 4.

7. Never consult the reporter when deciding to work late into the night. She will be insulted if you thought she had any family or social life commitments other than working with you.

8. Don’t mistake the reporter’s lifeless gaze as an indication of boredom. She is actually deeply absorbed by the intricacies of your 10-minute hypo-thetical.

9. Please spend a lot of time off the record telling war stories. Your tales are fascinating. In fact, you should write a book. No one thinks you’re wasting time.

10. If the reporter bolts out the door as soon as the deposition is over, she is simply eager to get home and relive the experience while transcribing and proofreading your words.

11. Read extensive medical reports into the record at breakneck speeds while mumbling over the unimportant parts. This gives the reporter an invigorating workout. To enhance the effect, do not identify the reports as exhibits.

12. There is no need to waste your time calling the reporter when a deposi-tion is cancelled. She will appreciate the opportunity of visiting your office and then having the rest of the day off.

13. After the deposition is over, always spend some time trying to persuade the reporter that your client is right and that your adversary is a no good S.O.B. Everyone knows that once the reporter is in your corner, your case is as good as won.

14. Since the reporter is so anxious for you to win your case, she would prefer if you take as long as possible to pay her bill. In fact, she would be insulted if you paid her bill in less than six months.

Rules for Keeping Court Reporters HappyContinued from page 2.

From the desk of the PresidentContinued from page 1.

Candace Reed, CSR, CRI, CPE7735 Atlanta HighwayMontgomery, AL 36117

Address SERVICE Requested

For The Record is published by the Alabama Court Reporters Association on a regular basis four times a year.

Publication Schedule for 2007-2008June 1, 2007

September 1, 2007December 1, 2007

March 1, 2008

Deadline for articles and ads is 30 days immediately preceding the above publication dates. Please submit articles, ads, etc., in

DIGITAL FORMAT attached to an email to:Candace Reed, [email protected]

Moving? Send your change of address, etc., to:

Janet F. Hereford, CSRJudicial Building

801 Forrest Avenue • Gadsden, AL [email protected]

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING WITH US?

Full Page$90.00 each issue OR $300.00 for four issues

Half Page$50.00 each issue OR $170.00 for four issues.

Quarter Page$30.00 each issue OR $90.00 for four issues.

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PAIDBirmingham, AL

Permit #3246

Send camera-ready advertisement and check to:Candace Reed, CSR, CRI, CPE

Editor, For The Record7735 Atlanta Highway

Montgomery, AL [email protected]

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