BlueLedge Courthouse Summit

Expert Insight on Digital Reporting Integration

The BlueLedge Courthouse Summit is a video series featuring expert voices within the legal industry who share valuable insight on technical considerations and practical strategies for integrating digital reporting solutions into court systems. Our guests also discuss exciting industry trends and highlight how community and collaboration can pave the way for innovation and success. 

FEATURING

In our second Courthouse Summit episode, Tamara Candeloro, Andrea Wecker, Janet Harris and Merritt Gilbert discuss the importance of integrating of digital reporting into court systems. Emphasizing accuracy, professionalism, and inclusivity, each expert explores how digital, stenographic, and voice writing methods can effectively coexist.

Our experts each stress the role of certified professionals in maintaining record integrity and the importance of adopting technology as a supportive tool rather than a replacement.

Each conversation also highlights challenges with industry adaptation, the need for professional development and mentorship, and examples of successful implementations in court systems. Events like the Unity Summit are presented as critical forums for collaborative growth and cross-method understanding.

JOIN THE ONLINE COMMUNITY

Register now to join our free online forum and connect with peers while learning from experts! 

WHY JOIN?

Our complimentary online forum features access to videos from the BlueLedge Courthouse Summit, featuring exclusive interivews with industry experts such as Ken Cook, Andrea Wecker, Janet Harris and more.

This is a great opportunity to collaborate with other courthouse officials who have either successfully implemented digital reporting solutions or who are interested in getting started.

• On-demand access to video series: Watch the BlueLedge Courthouse Summit video series featuring industry experts -- on demand!
  
  
• Connect with peers: Share experiences and learn from other courthouse officials implementing or exploring digital reporting solutions.
  
  
• Collaborate on best practices: Receive expert advice and work together to refine workflows and optimize digital reporting implementation.
  
  
• Share your expertise: Contribute valuable knowledge and insights to help others succeed.
  
  
• Access practical tips and tricks: Discover actionable strategies for seamless technology integration.
  
  
• Stay up-to-date: Keep informed about the latest trends and advancements in digital court reporting.
  
  
• Build a professional network: Expand your connections with colleagues across the courthouse community.
  
  
• And more!

• Certified Professionals Are Crucial to Record Integrity: Certification through AAERT ensures digital court reporters are trained not just in technology operation but in ethical standards, transcript production, and courtroom protocol. Professionals are vital for maintaining the accuracy, security, and legal validity of the court record.

• Technology Should Be Method-Neutral and Human-Centered: Rather than replacing professionals, technology should enhance their capabilities. Courts are encouraged to implement technology-neutral policies that support all methods—steno, voice, and digital—to address reporter shortages and improve flexibility.
  
  
• Education and Ongoing Training Are Non-Negotiable: Organizations like AAERT, STAR, and BlueLedge stress the value of continuing education, in-house workshops, and mentorship programs. Cross-training existing professionals helps broaden skills and ease transition into digital reporting roles.
  
  
• Stakeholder Collaboration Improves Implementation: STAR and AAERT advocate for collaborative models involving court leadership, legal professionals, and technology providers. Ongoing education for judges and attorneys is essential to foster understanding and success in a hybrid or fully digital environment.
  
  
• Events Like Unity Summit Promote Industry-Wide Progress: Conferences that bring together practitioners from all methods of court reporting, like STAR and AAERT’s Unity Summit, are critical in fostering mutual respect, collaboration, and standard-setting across the profession.

Andrea discovered her passion for court reporting at the age of 16 and now has more than 20 years’ experience as a freelance court reporter and captioner locally, nationally, and internationally.

In 2015, Andrea became the owner of Associated Reporting & Video, a full-service litigation support firm headquartered in Boise, Idaho. In 2017, she founded IdaCaption, a CART and captioning company that serves the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Idaho and beyond. 

In 2022, ARV joined the Veritext family. Andrea is now the Director of Partner Engagement and enjoys contributing to many aspects of the business.

Andrea is a member of the elite team of reporters working in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, reporting the 9/11 and USS Cole terrorist trials.  She knew from the moment she set foot on base that this incredibly challenging work is what she was built to do and is truly honored to have been chosen to play such an integral part in documenting history.

Andrea currently serves as the President of STAR. She served as president of the Idaho Court Reporters Association from 2017 to 2019 and has been an active member of the National Court Reporters Association for nearly three decades. She spends countless hours mentoring students and new reporters, as well as educating the legal community on the important role that court reporters play in our judicial system.

Andrea is married to the love of her life, Will. In her “spare” time, Andrea is an avid kickboxer (call it stress relief) and also enjoys competing in speed and real-time contests whenever she has the opportunity.

Janet began her career as a student of stenographic court reporting at a school located in Madison, Wisconsin. Over a 20 year career, she developed a business in Wisconsin offering legal video, reporting and transcription services. In 2013, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Smith College. She has extensive experience in court and hearing room reporting, transcription and videography. Since 1990, she has been active in trade associations and legislative efforts to allow increased use of electronic recording methods in courts, hearing rooms, depositions and private markets. 

As a co-founder of the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT), Janet has served as President and various board of director and committee chair positions. More recently, Janet served on the Certification Committee of AAERT and worked with their testing agency to develop a process for online delivery of the practical exam to AAERT members seeking the CET certification. She has been an active member of the association since its inception. 

Janet is certified by AAERT as a Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) and Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) . She also holds membership and certification with the American Guild of Court Video as a Certified Deposition Video Specialist (CDVS) and continues to serve on the AAERT Certification Committee. 

Janet was General Manager at AVTranz from 2013 to 2015, when it was acquired by eScribers and continued in her role through the acquisition. As Vice President, Corporate Development at eScribers, she worked with court administration and internal company teams to provide reporting and transcription services nationwide on local, state and federal government contracts. In 2020 Janet joined Stenograph as Vice President Market Development-Enterprise Solutions in Downers Grove, IL and is working with sales, marketing and product managers on new products for the digital reporting and transcription market.

Merritt Gilbert, CER, CDR, FPM, is the Director and lead instructor of digital reporting and legal transcription at BlueLedge, an online reporter and legal transcriptionist training company. She designs curricula for individuals seeking certification through AAERT, as well as continuing education units (CEUs) for those who are already certified.

During high school and summers when she was attending college, Merritt worked at the transcript binding table of Orange Legal, a large court reporting agency in Florida. This marked the beginning of her love for the court reporting industry. After college, she worked full-time in various departments at Orange Legal, learning to schedule jobs, assign the calendar, and quality-control legal transcripts. During her time at the agency, she was mentored by dozens of stenographic reporters.

In 2012, she devoted herself to becoming a digital reporter and was certified as a CER in 2013. Then, as the Digital Reporter Manager, she trained, reviewed job and transcript submissions, and oversaw client relations. Merritt has always shown a thirst for knowledge, and it’s because of this that she completed a voice writing course through Realtime Voice Training, formerly known as Realtime Voice Academy.

In 2018, she joined BlueLedge. During her tenure at Orange Legal and now at BlueLedge, Merritt has trained thousands of professionals in this industry.

Merritt has served on numerous committees at AAERT over the years, including the Nomination Committee and the Professional Development Committee. She now chairs the CER/CDR Certification Committee and sits on the AAERT Board of Directors.

BlueLedge is an AAERT-approved training center, preparing students for national certification in digital court reporting and legal transcription.