Update Federal pro tem

[Kyung]

Well, I became a pro tem for the Federal court just a few short months ago. If you've read any of my blogs, you know the first few times were very hairy. But I've produced a transcript from one of my days.

I've also learned a lot of new stuff. The problem is there is no formal training program. They kind of throw you in there and expect you to swim. There have been a couple of reporters who have been helping me out with the administrative end of things. Thank goodness.

As a freelancer reporter, I am used to getting an assignment from the agency and getting paid by the agency. As a pro tem reporter, I get the assignment from the court reporter scheduler. I turn in a voucher form that is usually signed by the clerk in the courtroom, I upload the notes to a website and print off a copy of the upload notes receipt and turn that in to the scheduler. A couple of weeks later, I get a check for the per diem. What drives me crazy is that I get one check for each day work. Very inefficient. But it's the government.

Now, where things go completely haywire is now I get orders from attorneys. Or I get calls from attorneys who might be interested in transcripts. So they need to give me the date, and I'll check if I worked that day in the courtroom they think I worked in. Then I tell them to send me the request n writing. Trust me, get it in writing. After I give them an estimate of how much the job will cost and request payment in advance, I will either get the order or not. I usually don't start work until the check is in hand. That's for stuff like civil matters.

It's a whole 'nother ball game for stuff being ordered by the public federal defender's office. There's a lot of administration in that before you even get to the part of producing a transcript. But two things that stood out to me. Most of the reporters who work in the court advised me to get a PO Box. You don't want to give out your address and you should get a TIN. You don't want your address or your social security number getting out there in the public domain. Something to think about.

[Katy Cuellar]

The odd thing about it, Kyung, is that those transcripts will haunt you five years or more later, so never put anything in storage where you can't get to it fairly easily.

[Kyung]

As a pro tem, I would get a po box. If you're an official, then you can use the courthouse as your address.

[Diane Hickman]

oh, I see (said the blind man.) Thanks for the info and web address and I'll look it up. I'm pondering to apply pro tempore in superior court. I suppose the TIN would come in handy there, right? And you still would recommend getting a po box as well?

[Kyung]

When you get transcript orders from the public defender's office, you have to fill out a public voucher form, and you need to put an address for where payment needs to be sent. Theoretically, your information could get into the public record. TIN is taxpayer idenfication number. You can apply for one. That way when the attorneys want your social security number in order to pay you, you can give them your TIN instead. It's really easy to apply for a TIN online.

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=96696,00.html

[Diane Hickman]

Kyung, your blogs are very helpful (and refreshingly amusing). Thanks for sharing your court experiences. Why is it important to get a PO Box as opposed to your home address, and what is a TIN?