Court stenographer Melissa Clagg, shown Wednesday in the Champaign County Courthouse in Urbana, is set to retire at the yearâs end after a career of more than 30 years. Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette
URBANA â You might not think the silent person in a court of law would be the most powerful person present.
But court stenographer Melissa Clagg, who has been keeping a verbatim record of whatâs said for 36 years, begs to differ.
âOur record has to go to the higher court if itâs appealed, so we have to be accurate,â Clagg said.
After 33 years of sitting quietly while working furiously at the Champaign County Courthouse, the 56-year-old Urbana woman is going to retire from the physically and mentally challenging daily grind. Her last day at the courthouse is Thursday.