Thanks To Them, ER Was Rejected

Posted in: Electronic Recording, Furloughs

Thanks to our state leaders’ hard work, ER expansion is rejected.

You, our members, truly cannot understand how close all official reporters in California came to losing our ability to continue to provide access to justice in the above-mentioned courtrooms.

A person’s life can change based on what is said in court or in a deposition. Because we are certified by the State of California -Department of Consumer Affairs, and we continue to educate ourselves, parties to a case are confident they are getting the best, most cost-effective method of the record.

Our association has and continues to compile data proving ER costs millions of dollars to parties and the states in which ER is utilized; retrials, dismissals, civil penalties, and other mishaps all cost citizens both emotionally, financially, and physically.

Thanks to all of the great support from the assembly members and senators who listened, learned, and made a decision based on fact; ER is simply not a cost-effective method to producing an accurate record.

COCRA is sending thank-you letters to members of both committees who voted to reject the ER proposal. We urge you, our members, to do the same. Their names and addresses are listed below.

And remember their efforts in future elections. They supported us based on facts. We want them to remember those facts and be in their positions in the legislature when this issue is raised in the future.

COCRA sends a huge “official” thank you to SEIU, AFSCME, IFPTE, DRA, and CCRA! Our unions and fellow associations were there alongside COCRA every step of the incredibly grueling stairway to succeeding in defeating ER…once again.

Thank you,
THE COCRA TEAM

ASSEMBLY

Noreen Evans, Chair; (D-Santa Rosa)
FAX 916-319-2107
State Capitol
Room 6026
Sacramento, CA, 94249-0007

Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles)
FAX 916-319-2145
State Capitol
Room 2114
Sacramento, CA 94249-0045

Bob Blumenfield (D-Van Nuys)
FAX 916-319-2140
State Capitol
Room 6011
Sacramento, CA 94249-0040

SENATE

Denise Ducheny, Vice Chair (D-San Diego)
FAX 916-327-3522
State Capitol
Room 5035
Sacramento, CA 95814

Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)
FAX 916-455-4722
State Capitol
Room 4061
Sacramento, CA 95814

Allen Lowenthal (D-Long Beach)
FAX 916-327-9113
State Capitol
Room 2032
Sacramento, CA 95814

1. Debi Allen
   June 11th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

   I am so greatful to our legislators who took the time, effort and heat to seek the truth and justification about why court reporters are the best, most efficient and accurate record. When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them that I am a human tape recorder. But I add, that when I break down, it is obvious to all concerned. When I can’t hear or understand, I make it known so that my record is as accurate as it possibly can be.
   To take that from the justice system, because our state is in such financial distress, and not seek other places to cut, which wouldn’t affect a person’s liberty and just decisions, would have been unjust and wrong.
   Thank you for keeping my profession in tact.