As outlined in a recent news conference by the Los Angeles Superior Court, the court reporter shortage in California is quickly becoming a constitutional crisis, with far-reaching consequences for litigants. From January 2023 to June 2024 alone, over 525,000 legal proceedings in Los Angeles County were held without a verbatim record. This means that individuals involved in critical family law, probate, and civil cases—often the most vulnerable members of society—are unable to appeal their cases due to the lack of transcripts. Without a record, there’s no chance for an appeal.
The Los Angeles Superior Court has made significant investments to address this crisis, spending $6 to $7 million annually over the past two years to attract and retain court reporters. Incentives have been generous, including $50,000 signing bonuses, $15,000 student loan allowances for new hires, $10,000 annual retention bonuses for existing reporters, and $25,000 finders fees for court employees who refer successful hires. Despite these efforts, the court has experienced a net loss of 117 court reporters from 2018 to 2024, with more reporters leaving than being hired each year.
The implications are clear: there simply aren’t enough court reporters to meet the demand. Without immediate action, the court reporter shortage will continue to grow, further limiting access to justice for thousands of Californians.
Technology: A Contested Solution
In response to this crisis, some states like Kentucky, Florida, and many others have embraced electronic recording and digital court reporters to cut costs, speed up transcription processes, and maintain the flow of justice. These technologies have helped bridge the gap caused by the court reporter shortage, offering a practical solution where court reporters are in short supply.
However, not everyone agrees. Many traditional stenographers argue that digital and electronic recording can be unreliable, prone to technical errors, and lack the accuracy needed in court proceedings. They point out that recordings can miss crucial details, leading to more harm than good—especially in complex cases where a small mistake could alter the outcome.
A Hybrid Approach: The Best of Both Worlds
While digital and electronic recording systems offer a faster, more scalable solution, they can’t fully replace the human expertise that stenographers bring. This is why a hybrid solution like Readback’s Active Reporting is so important. Combining human-assisted AI transcription with expert oversight ensures that recordings are both efficient and accurate. In this model, technology handles the speed and scale, while human professionals ensure the precision and reliability needed for legal proceedings.
A hybrid approach not only helps address the court reporter shortage but also safeguards the integrity of court transcripts, reducing the risk of errors that could jeopardize appeals and legal outcomes. It provides the balance between efficiency and accuracy, offering a practical solution to a constitutional crisis that threatens access to justice.
Legislative Changes Are Still Needed
In California, changes have been made to allow for the use of electronic recording in family law, probate, and unlimited civil cases when court reporters are unavailable. However, this is just the first step and not a complete solution to the court reporter shortage. A hybrid approach like Readback would ensure that no litigant is left without a verbatim record, protecting their right to a fair trial and an appeal.
Join the Conversation
How has the court reporter shortage affected you? Should lawmakers allow electronic recording in cases where court reporters are unavailable? Let us know by leaving a comment below and sharing this to social media.
Watch the full news conference from LA Superior Court: https://www.youtube.com/live/SA5LYDgwg80
*Disclaimer: Readback is neither a law firm nor a substitution for legal advice. This post should not be taken as legal opinion or advice.