Yesterday, May 29th, 2008, Linda Rapattoni of the Daily Journal reports the following:

“In a more controversial move, it [Senate Budget Subcommittee] also approved giving courts the authority to expand electronic reporting to all proceedings in family, probate and mental health courts as well as in law and motion proceedings. It is now used only in limited civil matters.
“Lobbyists for the roughly 8,000 court reporters in the state have fought off such moves since electronic reporting was introduced as an experiment in the mid-1980s. They say occasional equipment failures make electronic reporting unreliable and it actually requires more personnel, offsetting any potential savings.
“Legislative staff concluded that while it wouldn’t produce significant savings for the state, it would save litigants money because a recording costs between $10 and $20, while a written transcript often costs $300 or more.
“Michelle Castro, a lobbyist for the California State Council of Service Employees, which represents court reporters, said she did not think the proposal has much of a chance.
“‘There’s not big momentum for it, at least I’m hoping there isn’t,’ Castro said.”

The Senate Subcommittee #4 has recommended budget trailer bill language to implement these changes.

What is a court reporter to do? Stay strong, stay informed, and, above all, continue to provide access to justice for everyone in the cost-effective and accurate way you always do.

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