Anna Nicole Smith Gets Her Day in The Supreme Court

It won't be just another day at the office for the court reporter at the US Supreme Court when Anna Nicole Smith testifies in her own civil trial. According to newspaper reports, Anna Nicole Smith, the 1993 Playboy Playmate of the Year, diet guru, and reality TV star, will have her case argued in front of the nation's highest court.

Court Reporters To Get Celebrity Eyeful

The big buzz in media circles is whether Ms. Smith will attend the hearing.

"The U.S. Supreme Court doesn't require her to be there. It is her decision, and we have not discussed it yet," Smith's lawyer Kent Richland said.

While Marshall was alive, Anna Nicole, whose real name is Vickie Lynn Marshall, received $6.7 million from her husband, including $2.4 million in jewelry and $700,000 to help her modeling career along.

Anna Nicole Not in Will

But nothing shows Smith was ever included in his will.

Smith argues her late husband verbally promised her half of his estate, and she accuses his son of altering the will without his father's knowledge. The will, last updated in 1994, made Pierce Marshall the sole beneficiary.

Supreme Court to Hear On Technicality

In actuality, the Supreme Court won't be deciding anything juicy. Scheduled to be argued next year and decided by July, the justices will decide only one question: When can federal courts hear claims that are also involved in state probate proceedings?

In other words, writes the Houston Chronicle, the question is which court decision should stand ? the California bankruptcy-court ruling that awarded Smith $475 million (later reduced to $88.5 million) or the Harris County probate-court ruling that said Smith should get nothing?

Good Court Reporter Salary

In all of these court hearings there are and will be court reporters. A court reporter is a person who transcribes spoken speech into text, typically using stenography equipment to produce official transcripts of court hearings, depositions, and other official proceedings.

It's a good career and worth going to court reporter college for. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median court reporter salary in 2002 was $41,550. And you never know who is going to walk into the court room.

Sources

About the Author

Alex Russel is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, NY. Since graduating from Syracuse University he has worked at many different media companies in fields as diverse as film, TV, advertising, and journalism. He holds a dual bachelor's degree in English and History.