Reply #22: I think stranger81 is referring to an official or court reporter [View All]

[Sinti]

Basically, a reporter is like an old fashioned scribe - it's been around forever as prevalent and necessary for courts as bailiffs.

Every hearing, including Supreme Court hearings, have a reporter present. The official transcript from the reporter becomes the record of law, or in the case of Congress it becomes the Congressional Record. This used to be my job. Yes, I probably could have fudged things if I wanted to - don't think changing the words would have done much more than get me fired, though.