Handbook for Official Court Reporters - Kansas Judicial Branch

Rule 353. There are presently 135.5 authorized official court reporter positions
statewide. See page 8 of this Handbook for a breakdown by judicial district.
E. Oath of Office
Each official court reporter must take the oath or affirmation prescribed by K.S.A. 54-106
which provides:
"I do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will support the constitution of the United
States and the constitution of the state of Kansas, and faithfully discharge the
duties of [official court reporter]. So help me God."
F. Model Position Description
The Office of Judicial Administration has drafted a model position description, listing the
potential job responsibilities of managing court reporters, official court reporters, and
transcriptionists. See pages 9- 11 of this Handbook. An individual reporter's supervisor
will determine which specific job responsibilities are applicable to that reporter.
Evaluations are then based on the reporter's subsequent performance of the assigned
duties.
G. Personnel Rules
All Judicial Branch employees are subject to the Rules Relating to the Kansas Court
Personnel System, revised October 2004. Those personnel rules contain a comprehensive
statement of an employee's rights and responsibilities and are available from the Chief
Judge in each judicial district or from the Personnel Officer in the Office of Judicial
Administration. An official court reporter should ask for a copy of the personnel rules at
the beginning of employment, if one is not provided.
H. Assignment Outside District; Sale of Transcripts; Administration of Oath;
Reimbursement of Expenses
Pursuant to K.S.A. 20-917, the Supreme Court provides by rule for the assignment of an
official court reporter to duty in another judicial district and regulates the making of
records and the preparation and sale of trial transcripts. The statute further provides that
official court reporters have the power to administer oaths in court proceedings and are to
be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their
official duties in the same manner and to the same extent district j udges are reimbursed.
Handbook for Official Court Reporters Page 7