The SDCRA Summer Seminar will be held October 15th & 16th at the Cedar Shores Resort in Oacoma.

Judge Bobbi Rank, chair of the Court Record Preservation Committee, will give an update on their ongoing efforts for recruitment and the newly created committee.

Sarah Linn, Judicial Branch Educator with the Unified Judicial System, will be presenting different court reporting scenarios in a Family Feud interactive type setting with input from the SDCRA Board.

Participants will learn:

• Accuracy & Transcript Skills – Improve listening, punctuation, terminology, speaker identification, proofreading, and producing a clear and accurate record.
• Courtroom Knowledge & Professionalism – Reinforce legal procedures, courtroom terminology, ethics, confidentiality, and how to handle challenging situations professionally.
• Practical Skills & Best Practices – Learn strategies for dealing with fast or overlapping speakers, unfamiliar terminology, technology issues, equipment, and everyday court-reporting challenges.

Scott Sheldon, Security and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for UJS will present on developing situational awareness and how to keep yourself safe in the workplace. Scott retired from the South Dakota Highway Patrol in 2017 after nearly 27 years. He then worked for DSS in Division of Medical Services Program Integrity and Medicaid Fraud for 4 years. He started with UJS in 2021 and is currently working through the process of implementing and reviewing security measures for court locations in the state.

Participants will learn:

• How to recognize common sovereign citizen tactics and terminology that may arise during court proceedings.
• How to maintain a clear and accurate record when proceedings involve unusual language, repetitive objections, interruptions, or challenging interactions.
• How to respond professionally and safely while maintaining neutrality, following courtroom procedures, and understanding the court reporter’s role in difficult proceedings.

Desi Payne is an award-winning international keynote speaker, author, leadership trainer, and workplace culture expert who brings energy, humor, and practical strategies to every audience she serves. With more than 35 years of professional experience, Desi helps leaders and employees beat burnout, manage stress, strengthen workplace relationships, and create positive, high-performing cultures. A Certified John Maxwell Leadership Trainer and DISC-certified professional, Desi combines proven leadership principles with real-world experience and engaging storytelling. She has spoken in 28 states and internationally, working with hundreds of organizations and helping audiences discover practical ways to improve morale, resilience, communication, and employee engagement.

Participants will learn:

• A reboot framework to help them control their actions, alter their perspective, and delete negativity by replacing it with positivity.​​
• Practical strategies to recharge their mindset, protect their energy, and stay energized even during demanding seasons.
• How to be better equipped to respond intentionally, value people more effectively, and strengthen workplace relationships and culture.
• Tools to protect positivity, uplift the people around them, and turn their current job into their dream job.

Allison Hall is a freelance court reporter with 27 years of experience, an educator at Allison Hall Reporting Education and Oklahoma State University, and a dedicated mentor who helps court reporters achieve certification success. A sought-after speaker, she presents on writing efficiency, mentoring, focused practice, the future of court reporting, and legal education for judges and attorneys. Allison is an accomplished competitor, earning medals in NCRA’s National Speed Contest and qualifying for multiple National Speed and Realtime Contests. She has received numerous honors, including the Oklahoma Bar Association Liberty Bell Award, the Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Award of Excellence, the Steno in the City Philanthropist Award, and the Oklahoma Court Reporters Association Distinguished Reporter Award. Allison holds multiple professional certifications, including RDR, RMR, CRR, RPR, and CRI, is a Certified Shorthand Reporter in Oklahoma and California, and earned an Associate in Applied Science in Court Reporting from Central Penn College.

Participants will learn:

• How to use phrasing effectively to write shorter and more efficiently.
• How to tuck endings to reduce unnecessary strokes and improve writing speed.
• How to produce cleaner files that require less editing and make transcript production more efficient.

Allison Hall is a freelance court reporter with 27 years of experience, an educator at Allison Hall Reporting Education and Oklahoma State University, and a dedicated mentor who helps court reporters achieve certification success. A sought-after speaker, she presents on writing efficiency, mentoring, focused practice, the future of court reporting, and legal education for judges and attorneys. Allison is an accomplished competitor, earning medals in NCRA’s National Speed Contest and qualifying for multiple National Speed and Realtime Contests. She has received numerous honors, including the Oklahoma Bar Association Liberty Bell Award, the Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Award of Excellence, the Steno in the City Philanthropist Award, and the Oklahoma Court Reporters Association Distinguished Reporter Award. Allison holds multiple professional certifications, including RDR, RMR, CRR, RPR, and CRI, is a Certified Shorthand Reporter in Oklahoma and California, and earned an Associate in Applied Science in Court Reporting from Central Penn College.
professionals.

Participants will learn:

• How to use phrasing strategically to shorten their writing and increase efficiency.
• An easy-to-understand phrasing system that can be realistically implemented into everyday writing.
• How to create cleaner files that reduce editing time and streamline transcript production.

Sue Terry presently serves as an official court reporter in the Common Pleas Court of Xenia, Ohio. She is a past president of the National Court Reporters Association, the Ohio Court Reporters Association, and the StenoCat Users Network. She has chaired and served numerous NCRA committees and task forces, including Technology Evaluation, Discover Steno, Nominating, Finance, Distinguished Service Award, Education Content, TRAIN Task Force, Communications and Outreach, and numerous additional task forces. Sue chaired the NCRA STRONG Committee, the authors of the NCRA White Paper. She has served on the Gigatron Advisory Committee, the SUN Liaison Committee, Thomson Reuters Livenote Advisory Committee, and is a frequent presenter for the National Court Reporters Association, Ohio Court Reporters Association, the Ohio Supreme Court, bar and paralegal groups, and many state court reporting associations. Sue is a Registered Professional Reporter, Certified Realtime Reporter and Certified Realtime Captioner. She has received the distinction of being inducted as a Fellow of the Academy of Professional Reporters. She is also the only person in NCRA’s long history to receive both the NCRA Distinguished Service Award and the Jim Bouley Family Altruism Award in the same year.

Participants will learn:

• AI Trends & Updates – Understand the current state of AI and how emerging technology is affecting the court reporting profession.
• Responsible AI Use – Learn practical ways to use AI effectively while protecting accuracy, confidentiality, and the integrity of the official record.