Court reporters victimized by technological advances

Full-time court reporters — those charged with making accurate records of trials in the Bay State — will be replaced by an electronic recording system and per diem workers next year, according to a memorandum circulated to judges and clerks this week.

The Massachusetts Trial Courts will eliminate the position of official court reporter as of June 30, 2018, according to the document, which was provided to the Herald. Trial court brass and union leaders representing the official court reporters came to an agreement that would bring in the For the Record digital recording system and phase out reporters.

“The Trial Court will eliminate the position of official court reporter as of June 30, 2018,” the memo, circulated Wednesday, states. “Thereafter, the Superior Court will record criminal trials through either electronic recording with Court Monitors or per diem court reporters.”

There are currently 37 official court reporters in the state. According to the memo, 16 court reporters will be appointed as “court monitors” at various clerks’ offices. Court monitors will be responsible for maintaining the digital recording systems.

“The Trial Court also agreed to make good faith efforts to find alternative positions for those official Court Reporters who are not appointed as Monitors and who wish to remain employed with the Trial Court,” the memo states. “Others may choose to retire or be laid off and work privately as per diem court reporters or transcribers.”

George Noel, vice president of the OPEIU Local 6, sent an email to court reporters Wednesday explaining how their positions were being eliminated.

“This has been a long and difficult process,” he wrote. “The uncertainty must have been the hardest on many of you.”

Martin W. Healy, chief legal counsel of the Massachusetts Bar Association, said recent technological advancements have “unfortunately led to job loss and job reassignments.”

He added that the MBA, which has supported court reporters throughout the process, will “continue to monitor” the situation.

“They are an integral part of the justice system,” Healy said. “We’re going to watch and make sure people are getting fair trials and that there are not administrative glitches or technology errors that prevent people who are seeking justice from obtaining it.”

The Trial Courts memo said court leaders “are confident that the quality and timeliness of transcripts can and will be assured.”