Michigan court reporters want to make more money. Who doesn’t, right? They are seeking a wage increase from their current pay rate of $1.75 per original page and 30 cents per copied page.

A House Bill being introduced would double Michigan’s page rate to $3.50 per original page and 75 cents per copy page. The bill was introduced by Representative Hank Vaupel, R-Fowlerville, with bipartisan co-sponsorship by Representative Julie Brixie, D-Meridian Township.

Will They Get the Increase

A court reporter transcribes court hearings for use in civil or criminal court cases, and wages are set by lawmakers. The page rates for Michigan were set in 1986 and they had not changed since that year. Not one penny of an increase.

“This is just yet another way that wages are being artificially low in the state of Michigan,” Brixie said. “We have to recognize that working people and working families have to be compensated fairly for the work they do.”

Court-hired court reporters are given a salary, and the per-page rate works the same as overtime for traditional industries. But in some cases, courts outsource their transcription work to freelance court reporters, who are only paid the per-page rate.

Court reporters are expected to provide their own health insurance and receive no sick time or vacation time in Michigan.

Court reporters seeking employment elsewhere to earn more income could have a snowball effect within the legal system, as the harder, it is to find eligible court reporters, the harder it is for people to get the justice that they’re seeking.

The bill has been referred to the Judiciary Committee. In order to become law, the bill will have to pass the House and the Senate and be signed by the Governor.

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