LiveDeposition Certified Reporter Spotlight
Name: Tosha Seaney
Title: Official Court Reporter, Forsyth Superior Court
Certifications:
CSR, CCR
Self-summary in three words:
Dedicated court reporter
When did you begin your court reporting career?
1992
What sparked your interest in choosing court reporting as a profession?
My high school typing teacher told me I would make a great court reporter, when I completed her class in a month at 110 wpm. I checked into the profession, and was immediately hooked. I wanted to be part of the legal process, and the fit was perfect.
What advice would you give students or those just entering the field of Court Reporting?
Be the best you can be every day, and don’t be too hard on yourself when you’re not perfect. You’re human. Strive to learn from your mistakes, and don’t repeat them.
What is your favorite thing about being a reporter?
The flexibility and stability it has given me in raising my 5 boys. I was freelance for the first 20 years of my career so I could also be available for the boys. I have moved into the official capacity as my parental duties have decreased. There are definitely pros and cons to both.
As a Court Reporter, what is your worst nightmare or biggest pet peeve?
My worst nightmare is being shot in the courtroom. Our courthouse was attacked on June 6, 2015 by a defendant who was scheduled to enter a plea that day. Fortunately, our sheriffs did their job, and only one officer was shot, and the defendant was killed. The investigation revealed that I was on his “hit list” as he was upset with me due to our policies regarding transcripts and only speaking to attorneys when parties are represented.
Where is the strangest place you have taken a deposition?
In a holding cell with a defendant who was imprisoned for a mass murder. There were two chairs in the holding cell, and I had to share one with an attorney. The prisoner sat across a two-foot wide table in shackles and chains, and we were up against the opposite wall with nowhere to go if he decided to come across that table. It occurred to me that he was in for life and he had nothing to lose.
What is the funniest thing you have heard during a deposition or in the courtroom?
We had a defendant who was being picked up on a warrant. When the defendant realized the police were there for him, he took off running out the back door, without any clothes on. The officers chased him through the woods, and he ran head first into a tree, and was knocked out. He was taken into custody and woke up naked in the police car. Everyone in the courtroom was laughing, as the defendant didn’t have any problem telling the judge exactly what he was thinking as he was running through the woods naked with an officer chasing him.
When not court reporting, how do you spend your free time?
I am recently SCUBA certified, which I thorough enjoy. I work out with my husband, and engage in retail therapy.
What do you like most about LiveDeposition?
I finally threw away my realtime cables. It is so nice to not have to worry about whether the attorney’s system is “compatible” with your output. I provide realtime in all of my criminal jury trials. I even give the deputies in the courtroom access to the LiveDeposition feed so they can access it via their iPhones. It gives everyone a new appreciation for what reporters do, and I am privileged to be part of that educational process.
Anything else you would like to share?
If you haven’t taken the step to provide realtime as part of your reporting career, I challenge you to take the plunge. Just do it! It will make you a better reporter, and will open doors for you unlike any other skill you will acquire as a reporter. Sure, it’s scary, but it is so worth it..