7 Year Milwaukee Court Reporter Sheila Finnegan-Martinez Interviewed
Brown & Jones Reporting is made up of individual people who happen to be court reporters in the Milwaukee area. We wanted to let you get to know our court reporters more than you’d learn working with them at a deposition.
This article is an interview with Sheila Finnegan-Martinez, who has been a court reporter for 7 years. She has been with Brown & Jones Reporting for over 2 years.
How long have you been a court reporter?
I am in my seventh year of court reporting.
How long have you been with your current firm?
A little over two years.
What do you like most about working with Brown & Jones Reporting?
The fabulous management, great/hilarious coworkers, traveling and meeting new people, and flexibility in scheduling.
Before becoming a court reporter, have you ever worked in other jobs or fields? If so, what did you do?
Yes. I became interested in court reporting after working for five years with the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Madison, Wisconsin. When I learned about the court reporting/closed captioning program, I thought – BINGO – and knew this is where my journey would really begin.
Where did you grow up?
Though I am a proud “California Navy Baby,” I grew up primarily in Central Wisconsin.
What changes have you seen in the industry since you became a court reporter?
The intense need for obtaining your Realtime certification, which I am striving for. I was so close last time!
What is the best part of being a court reporter?
Always learning something new! Through hearing the testimony of many witnesses, I now know how to lay carpet properly, what the right pitch a roof needs to be for Wisconsin weather, and how to best scrub a tub!
What is the most challenging part of being a court reporter?
Trusting your GPS to get you where you need to be!
As a court reporter, what is your biggest fear?
Equipment malfunction and attorneys who put their beverages a little too close to me.
What has been your most challenging deposition?
Taking my first medical deposition of a very fast-speaking chiropractor! Oh, and pulmonary radiologists are always a treat to work with, as well!
Have you ever had funny things happen to you in a deposition?
YES! It happens to me so often that I ought to write a book about it! On a lunch break, years ago, I grabbed soup and a sandwich at a local deli. The deposition resumed, then ended, and I got in my car, looked in the mirror, and saw that I had tomato bisque soup all over my cheek! Why no one told me is still baffling…
Do you have any tips about work/life balance?
RELAX! Everyone is human, and taking time out for YOU is crucial – something I think we sometimes forget.
What else would you like us to know about you?
I’m pretty good at nunchuks.
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Sheila Finnegan-Martinez better. Look for future interview articles with other Brown & Jones court reporters. In the meantime, let us know in the comments if Sheila’s answers brought up any memories or ideas in your mind about court reporting.
Tags: Court Reporter Interviews, court reporters, Sheila Finnegan-Martinez
November 14th, 2013 at 11:43 am
I don’t even know what nunchuks is.