Hay River (Apr 11/05) - Joel Bowker - a court reporter based in Hay River - can record an amazing 250 words per minute on a stenograph machine.

"It kind of goes from the ears to the fingertips," he says of his skill with recording the spoken word.

Joel Bowker, a court reporter in Hay River, displays the stenograph machine he uses to record court proceedings. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

In court, it may look like Bowker is using a form of typewriter, but the stenograph is specialized equipment with 22 keys.

"It's almost similar to playing a piano," Bowker says, explaining the stenograph has its own language and combinations of keys are used to make certain letters.

"I can read it like English," he says. "I sound out words."

Bowker, 31, learned the skill at a two-year program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in his hometown of Edmonton.

The verbatim records are used to provide readbacks in court and transcripts as required.

Bowker says a court reporter has to concentrate on what's being said, and he describes himself as a good listener.

However, he notes, "It can get very difficult at times hearing a witness who may be emotional or upset, or understanding a witness who has a heavy accent."

On rare occasions, he may let the judge know if he can't hear a witness or if a person is talking too fast. "No matter how fast a court reporter can write, there's always someone who can speak faster."

Bowker has written up to four hours at a stretch, but notes judges are usually very good about taking breaks every two hours or so.

Recording mishaps

Occasionally, Bowker has had recording mishaps in court.

Once, the tripod - on which his stenograph sits - folded and the stenograph tipped over. Luckily, Bowker caught the $6,000 machine before it hit the floor.

"Of course, no one stopped speaking when that happened," he recalls, noting he quickly caught up.

During one trial, court went on location outside an RCMP detachment.

Bowker set up on a concrete pad and, when proceedings began, his chair started to roll away from the stenograph.

He had to ask the judge to stop, while the court clerk stuck her foot behind his chair so it wouldn't move.

Bowker came to the NWT just after graduating eight years ago.

He first worked briefly in Yellowknife and moved to Hay River in the summer of 1997. "It's home now."

In Hay River, he met his wife, Erlinda, and they have two children.

Bowker, one of five court reporters in the NWT, works on Territorial Court circuits in the South Slave and Deh Cho.

In addition, he occasionally works in Inuvik, the Sahtu and for the Supreme Court in various locations.

On average, he spends between 75-80 days on the road each year.