Court Reporters Fight Lawsuit to Expand Electronic Recording in Courts

The Los Angeles County Court Reporters Association urged the California Supreme Court on Tuesday to reject a lawsuit seeking expanded use of electronic recording devices in courtrooms.

Association members work at the Pasadena Courthouse and other Los Angeles Superior Court facilities throughout the County.

The association said the lawsuit, Family Violence Appellate Project et al. v. Superior Courts, would compromise litigants’ right to appeal by producing incorrect and incomplete transcripts.

“Court reporters are legally required to provide an accurate record of court proceedings,” said Los Angeles County Court Reporters Association President Shanna Gray. “We do not and cannot allow proceedings to move forward until we are certain who is speaking and what is being said, something electronic recordings simply cannot replicate.”

Los Angeles County Court Reporters Association, representing over 340 court reporters in Los Angeles County courts, contends the lawsuit relies on flawed data analysis claiming courts cannot hire enough court reporters.

The group said recent efforts to expand the court reporter workforce have been successful, citing a $30 million state investment in recruitment and retention. They also pointed to the authorization of voice writers as a pathway to licensure.

These initiatives have led to a 250% increase in licensed certified court reporters in California over the past two years, according to Los Angeles County Court Reporters Association.

Gray warned that expanded electronic recording would create inequality in the justice system.

“Allowing an expansion of these recordings would leave litigants who are unable to afford a private court reporter at a severe disadvantage compared to those who can—resulting in a two-tiered system of justice,” she said.

Courts statewide are seeing increased applications, creating internship programs, and expanding the use of court reporters, the association said. Court reporting certification programs now have waitlists for all interested students due to strong interest.

“Court reporting is a vital profession and interest in delivering justice to Californians is thriving. Now is not the time to take a step back,” Gray said. “We urge the Court to reject this potentially damaging lawsuit and join with court reporters in ensuring all Californians have the access to justice they deserve.”