Bill to Expand and Modernize Court Reporter Pool in CA Introduced In Assembly

A bill aimed at expanding and modernizing the court reporter pool in California was introduced in the Assembly on Tuesday, with the ultimate goal of the bill to bring forward digital court reporters in addition to the current pool of shorthand reporters.

Assembly Bill 1189, authored by Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), would specifically provide for the certification of digital reporters by the Court Reporters Board of California and would authorize a certified digital reporter to swear in witnesses and capture the record in a legal proceeding. The bill would also provide for the certification of legal transcriptionists by the board and would authorize a legal transcriptionist to certify transcripts for use in legal proceedings. In addition, AB 1189 would establish application and qualifications for these certifications, including requiring applicants for either certification to obtain a certificate from a certain professional organization, or meet other specified requirements.

Assemblyman Lackey wrote the bill because of growing shortage of court reporters in the state. According to the Judicial Branch of California, more than 1.5 million hearings in unlimited civil, family law, and probate proceedings have been held without a verbatim record since January 1, 2023, with California courts needing an additional 458 full-time court reporters to meet the demand of the current caseload. Lackey also noted that the shortage of certified court reporters poses profound implications for litigants—especially those from low-income or underserved communities—who are often unable to appeal important decisions in the absence of an official transcript or who cannot afford to pay for their own court reporter.

Lackey’s solution in AB 1189 is to bring in certified digital reporters, who would record and then transcript recordings, with the entire process being overseen by the California Court Reporters Board. Shorthand reporters would not be replaced under the bill, with simply both options existing for courts and potential court reporters and stenographers choosing which method they would like to pursue and be certified in.

“You don’t have to imagine the trauma of someone unable to appeal a decision over child custody, paternity or conservatorship. It’s reality. It’s happening every day across our courts,” explained Assemblyman Lackey. “This bill is about protecting people’s access to justice and preserving the integrity of the court record. We cannot allow court cases to go unrecorded simply because we don’t have enough stenographers. This legislation offers a practical solution that honors the contributions of stenographic court reporters while modernizing our system for today’s growing needs.

“This is a quiet crisis that is compromising Californians’ constitutional rights every day. This bill protects due process and protects the record. This bill prevents delays and ensures equitable access to legal records, and it ensures that stenographers, digital reporters and transcriptionists all play a role in meeting the state’s legal record-keeping requirements.”

As AB 1189 was introduced later than usual to this session of the legislature, no opposition against the bill has yet to come forward, with the bill also having not been heard in an Assembly Committee yet. However, the urgency of the shortage of court reporters is expected to propel the bill forward soon.