New Zealand Court Reporting Goes Electronic

[Janet]

Did anyone see this article? It was in the NCRA Tech Tracker e-mail.

http://www.odt.co.nz/your-town/dunedin/60346/dunedin-court-reportin...

How do you feel about this quote?

"It allows jury trials to be transcribed without stopping. It is expected to cut the time jury trials take by about a third by allowing evidence to be heard at normal speaking speed. "

I worked as an official in federal court, and I can tell you I did nothing to impede the speed of the trials. On the rare occasion I'd ask for a clarification, it was to ensure that the record is 100 percent accurate.

They are dreaming if they think this is a better system. Can you imagine how many "inaudible" notations are going to result?

Here's another quote:

"Ms Beech said it meant the scheduling of hearings was not limited by the availability of local transcription staff, and the quality of court transcribing would be consistent."

I'm sure the quality will be consistent -- substandard.

Take a look at the article. My blood was boiling.

Janet

[Jennie Ann]

Excuse me while I burp. LOL! I found another article about the so-called "National Transcription Service": Opening of Auckland Transcription Centre

IMO, if they want to do something to improve their economy, they ought to be concentrating on their methane-making bovines' inefficient digestion, producing hundreds of liters of the greenhouse gas every day. The average cow produces between 300 and 500 liters of methane a day. In New Zealand, agriculture accounts for almost 50 percent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.

[Patricia Babits]

I've read this article. I really don't understand it.

[Erica Abbott]

It does not make any sense whatsoever! I just can't understand why people are after us. They get mad if we interrupt, but they get even more mad when the record is not clear. I work my butt off to give attorneys and Judges and Hearing Officers a perfect transcript, while also always being VERY polite and interrupting very minimally. Basically, they are turning reporters into transcriptionists. What's the point of becoming a CR then? None?

Also, isn't a whole part of the economic problems stemming from outsourcing work and sending it someplace else to be done? I sure feel like I could find a ton of state positions that we could probably eliminate because their duties can be given to someone else. But I do not think that CRs are one of them. And that's not just because I am one, but because if everyone is due to a fair trial (among other things to do with the court system), how can it be fair if half of it is missing!?!

WE NEED TO BE LOUDER. I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW YET. UGH! SO FRUSTRATING

[Janet]

Patricia, it means they think we are not worth it, that we slow down the process. They're under the impression that people can't speak at normal speeds with us -- totally wrong. They think that this technology is better.

When I think about them not being present, I can imagine all sorts of issues. I know when I've done depositions where there are a number of people attending via telephone, it is extremely difficult to distinguish who is talking. That's only one problem I see with the accuracy. There are many.

There's a big move in this industry to change the way we work and how we're paid for it. It's not heading in a good direction.

[Michelle]

Janet, you're right, this new system is madness - how can somebody in an entirely different state know the different speakers? If the local court reporter is sick and so they have to use this system, whose responsibility is it to make sure it's turned on, the microphones are connected and working and there's an accurate record of those present???
Just thinking about the possible problems makes my head hurt :)

And as for this quote "The wider Auckland transcription team can be very proud of being at the forefront of change that will make justice more accessible to more people". They're right, they will make justice more accessible to more people, but only because more people are going to have to appeal and re-try cases due to problems with transcripts!!