Court Reporter Shortage Crisis in California

November 2, 2022

Each day across California, tens of thousands of court hearings are held. Lawyers
argue, witnesses testify, litigants tell their stories and judges make decisions. What
many people do not appreciate is the crucial role played by a court reporter:
creating and preserving a verbatim record of those exchanges. As a chronic
shortage of court reporters reaches crisis levels, the statutory framework for court
reporting must adjust to the new realities of the reporting profession.