What to Know
The coverage of Lindsay Clancy’s trial, in which she is accused of killing her three young children and where her defense has argued that she was under extreme postpartum psychosis, has been extensive. Not only are people talking about the actual trial, but they are also discussing the individuals seen in the courtroom during the various livestreams of the trial, including a woman who appears to be covering her mouth often.
Users on a Reddit post questioned who the woman is who is covering her mouth during the Lindsay Clancy trial and what, if any, significance she has in the case. She has been spotted during the daily streams of the trial, and she has a strange device on her face that not many are familiar with. For some, she is one of the many confusing pieces of the trial and case.
The woman is seen with something covering her mouth throughout Lindsay Clancy’s trial.
In the Reddit post, someone shared a screenshot from one of the trial livestreams. In it, the unnamed woman holds a device with a cord attached to it against her mouth. The user who made the post asked what the woman is using as she holds it against her mouth. Others commented to share their own confusion at the device and who the woman might be.
Some left comments to clear up the confusion, though. Many explained that the woman is the court stenographer and that she is using a dictation device rather than using the classic stenography machine that people often see in trials.
“At one time, court reporters had to stenographically record testimony, either by shorthand or with a steno machine,” a Reddit user commented on the post. “This is a 3rd alternative. I have seen these in courtrooms years ago.”
A user who commented that they are a trial lawyer confirmed, “She’s a stenographer/court reporter. She is talking the testimony onto the record using dictation software instead of using a stenography machine. That shroud is a part of the microphone that helps the mic hear only her voice and not ambient voices/noise.”
When someone asked why the stenographer isn’t typing the court transcript, another person replied, “It’s just a particular method used. The most common is still the old fashioned stenographer w/their specialty stenography typing machine.”
Apparently, it’s how some trials are recorded now.
According to the Bar Association of San Francisco, voice writing is the preferred method in some trials. There are still classic stenographers out there, but a benefit of using voice writers in trials is that they can quickly dictate what they hear in a trial, often in shorthand words. It is then translated into proper text with advanced speech recognition software.
In California, the introduction of voice writing in courtrooms began in 2022. As a result, more students have been able to pass the Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) exam than before, when the only option was to learn how to use the steno machine keyboard.
There have been criticisms of Court TV’s coverage of Lindsay Clancy’s trial.
@kat_on_the_record You might have noticed this voice writer if you’ve been following the Lindsay Clancy case. Here’s a quick rundown of how voice writing works! #lindsayclancy #patrickclancy #courtreporting #voicewriter #truecrimetok ♬ original sound – KatOnTheRecord
For some, being able to watch a trial like Clancy’s is important, because they get to hear all of the facts and information firsthand. For others, certain outlets’ coverage isn’t what they hoped it would be. Critics of Court TV in particular discussed on Reddit the downfall of watching the trial through the longtime true crime network that also has a presence online.
One of the biggest issues seems to be with the commentary on the livestreams from Court TV.
“Most of Court TV’s commentators have been so incredibly biased,” someone commented on the post. “I have heard multiple of them say this case should have never been brought forth which is a wild thing to state.”
Another added, “All they care about is clicks and clickbait titles.”
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