LiveDeposition Certified Reporter Spotlight

Name: Sheri Byers

Title:  Freelance Court Reporter

Certifications:
RPR

Self-summary in three words:
Christian, happy, thankful.

When did you begin your court reporting career?
1994

What sparked your interest in choosing court reporting as a profession?
I met a court reporter at a career day in high school. I was always interested in the judicial system and I love words and to read. Once I heard about court reporting, I never wanted to do anything else.

What advice would you give students or those just entering the field of Court Reporting?
Keep going! Fight for every word. You can do so much more than you think you can! It’s not easy, but it is worth it.

What is your favorite thing about being a reporter?
I love the flexibility. I worked as an official in the beginning of my career and loved it, but after I had a family switched to freelance and now love it and freedom it gives me. There are so many options now for reporters whatever your season of life.

As a Court Reporter, what is your worst nightmare or biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is attorneys who don’t hire interpreters and yet expect the reporter to understand and even read back what a person is saying in a different language or broken English. If you don’t know what they’re saying, we don’t either!

Where is the strangest place you have taken a deposition?
A dirty manufacturing plant with no air conditioning on a South Carolina 100-degree day. It had to be 120 degrees in there and loud as could be for 300 pages!!!

What is the funniest thing you have heard during a deposition or in the courtroom?
A drug dealer testify had to hire a driver to deliver his drugs for him after his driving license was suspended. It caught me as so funny where his moral line was drawn.

When not court reporting, how do you spend your free time?
I love boating with my family, also reading and doing yoga to unwind after sitting long hours.

What do you like most about LiveDeposition?
It’s so easy!! No cords or adapters! It’s so great for last-minute connections.