LeNay Maull’s story is a reminder that sometimes the right path finds its way back to you exactly when it is supposed to.
Some careers are chosen. Others wait for you. Long before she ever stepped into a courtroom as a reporter, she was already there — a student worker at the Santa Monica Courthouse in the late 1990s, quietly observing, learning, and forming connections she didn’t yet realize would shape her future.
One of those connections was with Judge Rex Mintor. He, along with the court reporter in his courtroom, saw something in her and encouraged her to pursue court reporting. At the time, it was just a suggestion, something to consider, something to think about.
She stepped away from the courts, built a life, raised her child, and moved forward. Like so many, she took on responsibilities that came first. The idea of becoming a court reporter faded into the background.
Years later, after her child was grown, she made a decision that would change everything. She went back to school to become a court reporter. She was balancing demanding work, including driving 18-wheel trucks and Metro buses, waking up at two or three in the morning to begin her shifts. It required discipline, sacrifice, and a level of focus she hadn’t experienced before.
Along her Metro routes, she repeatedly saw Los Angeles Superior Court advertisements for court reporters — on buses, on bus benches, at stops throughout her day. It wasn’t what started her journey, but it felt like confirmation, a quiet reminder that she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
“I had to get off that bus.”
That determination carried her through. She completed her apprenticeship hours at the Inglewood Courthouse, working in Departments 2 and 4, where she quickly discovered a love for the trial room. Under the guidance of experienced reporters like Shanna Scott and Kristine Tanoue, she built relationships that became a foundation for her success — people she could call, learn from, and rely on.
When she passed her CVR in December 2024 and her CSR in January 2025, she didn’t hesitate. She applied to the court the same day she received her results.
By March 17, 2025, she was officially a court reporter with Los Angeles County. Her first year, like so many others, came with challenges. But she leaned on the support around her — from her mentor, Carol Herrera, to colleagues like Stephanie Levy, and Celeste Poppe who shared their knowledge, guidance, and time without hesitation. And now, she has become part of that same support system.
She is actively involved in the profession — serving on the PARLAC Board, participating in LACCRA, and contributing to legislative efforts. Not because she has to, but because she wants to. Because she values this profession. Because she appreciates what it gave her.
Her journey is not just about completing probation. It is about returning to something that was always there, waiting patiently until the timing was right.
And now, she stands not only as a court reporter, but as someone who proves that it is never too late to come back to what was meant for you. She offers simple but meaningful advice for those just starting out: stay organized, back up your work, invest in learning, and don’t isolate yourself. Reach out. Ask questions. And most importantly, protect your mindset because success in this profession is just as much mental as it is technical.
Congratulations on your first year. Your story is one that reminds us all the right path will always find its way back to you.
Do you have a reporter you want to suggest for our next member spotlight? Email [email protected].
