“Over the course of the next few years, you and I will all be put to the test.”
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner delivered remarks at the National Court Reporters Association’s (NCRA) 2025 Leadership & Legislative event held Feb. 2-4 in Alexandria, Va. NCRA President-Elect Cindy L. Isaacsen, RPR, an official court reporter from Shawnee, Kan., introduced Warner, who appeared via video before an audience of court reporters, professional captioners, and legal videographers from around the country.
“People trust that our courts are fair because we keep a record with integrity., Warner said. “And now more than ever, we need court reporters to serve as the backbone of those efforts.”
Warner went on to thank those in attendance ahead of what he anticipates will be an “unprecedented” amount of litigation at the federal level. “Over the course of the next few years, I expect you will see unprecedented levels of litigation at the federal level,” he noted
“Which is why I’m going to offer my thanks to the group of court reporter stenographers, captioners, and videographers here today who are working hard to keep our judicial system on the record and open to the public,” added Warner who also serves as the Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair
“As the ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Warner knows what it takes to fortify our nation’s institutions from threats at home and abroad,” said NCRA State Government Relations Manager Colin Brehm. “For a member of the world’s most deliberative body to recognize the role court reporters play in our nation’s judiciary is quite the acknowledgment.”
Attendees met for the two-day event before making their way to Capitol Hill to advocate their lawmakers to sponsor the Research and Oversight of Potential AI in Courts Act of 2025.
“The backdoor of America’s judicial system is hanging wide open right now and this legislation doesn’t just shut the door, it turns the deadbolt,” said Dave Wenhold, CAE, PLC, NCRA’s Executive Director. “We need Washington, D.C., to heed our warning and act now.”
The full text of Sen. Warner’s remarks follows
Hi, I’m Senator Mark Warner. For over a century, the National Court Reporters Association has brought together dedicated professionals to strengthen our judicial system. As Virginia’s Senator, I’m proud that you’re headquartered right here in the Commonwealth where some of America’s great jurists have lived. And to which is home to our nation’s oldest court.
America has always been a country of laws. People trust that our courts are fair because we keep a record with integrity – and now more than ever we need court reporters to serve as the backbone of those efforts.
Over the course of the next few years, you and I will all be put to the test. I expect you will see unprecedented levels of litigation at the federal level, which is why I’m going to offer my thanks to the group of court reporter stenographers, captioners, and videographers here today who are working hard to keep our judicial system on the record and open to the public.
You’re all professionals, leaders in your fields, and I know you will continue to uphold our judicial system in every jurisdiction and through every appeal. Again, thank you for your work, your passion, and dedication to the law.
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