Kansas Court Reporters Association
Darcie Cruz President of KCRA
Official Court Reporter, Neosho County
Mary Kay Howe Official Court Reporter, Douglas County
October 30, 2014
What’s the Return On Investment?Court Reporters:
Guardian of the Record Professionally Trained – Certified Code of Ethics Integrity of the Record Realtime Technology Control of Exhibits Chain of Custody Instantaneous Transcription Move Independently Bailiff Administrative Assistant to the Judge
Digital Recording
American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers
National Center for State Courts, 2013 Report
Recommend:1. Court Provided Monitor2. Top of the Line Equipment
Digital Recording Costs
Court Monitor Equipment Year one: $84,952.00 Year one (portable)
7,500.00 Year three: 66,883.00 Year five: 73,383.00TOTAL
$232,718.00
Court Reporter Costs
Year one: Salary $50,000 + Benefits $20,000 = $70,000.00
Year two: Salary + Cola $52,000.00 + Benefits $20,000.00 =
$73,500.00 Year three: Salary + Cola $55,000.00
+ Benefits $20,000.00 = $77,000.00
TOTAL $220,500.00
Cost Comparison
Five-Year Period
Digital Recording $232,713.
Court Reporter $220,500. Savings
$12,218.
Consider the Return On Investment of a Court Reporter
Additional Costs
Digital Recording I.T. Support Maintenance Storage
Court Reporters 2-3 Backups No Maintenance
Advisory Committee on Court Reporting 2004/2005
Digital recording appropriate for:
Care and treatment Child in need of care Domestic District Magistrate Judges Juvenile Offender Limited Civil PFA’s and PFS’s Probate Small Claims Traffic/felony DUI
Advisory Committee on Court Reporting 2004/2005
Court Reporter necessary for:
Chapter 60 civil jury trials Chapter 60 civil trials to the court Criminal felony motions, trials, sentencing Criminal misdemeanor jury trials Termination of parental rights
If it is so good, why then…
Topeka Vendor Out of Business
No upgrades No maintenance No recourse No troubleshooting
Problems with Digital Recordings
Coughing Pen clicking Mumbling Microphone Jury box Mic not working Soft Spoken Head nodding Deciphering
Then There Are The Failures of Digital Recordings Mixer off three weeks State v. Brian Vaught Wabaunsee County: Five months Johnson County: Many failures Sedgwick County: Five year old boy
Thankfully the Court Reporter was there
Court Reporters
2014 Kansas Legislature Not so in:
California Texas New Mexico Idaho New Jersey Iowa
Utah Law Clerk and Attorney
Support from….
Kansas Bar Association Kansas District Judges
Association Kansas County and District
Attorneys Kansas Association of Defense
Counsel Local County Attorneys,
District Attorneys, and Sheriffs