Federal Court Reporting System: Outdated and Loosely Supervised
GGD-82-11
Published: Jun 08, 1982. Publicly Released: Jun 08, 1982.
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Highlights
GAO conducted a review to determine how effectively and efficiently the present court reporting system was operating and whether alternative systems could better meet the needs of both the judiciary and the litigants.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Judicial Conference of the United States | The Judicial Conference, through the Administrative Office and judicial councils, should establish appropriate procedures and policies to ensure that court reporters' activities in district courts are adequately supervised and managed. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Judicial Conference of the United States | The Judicial Conference should assign the clerk of the court within each district responsibility for managing the district's official court reporters to ensure that: (1) reporters properly charge for transcripts; (2) reporters serve the entire court, including magistrates, senior judges, and visiting judges; (3) reporters' recording and transcription workloads are balanced and equitable; (4) contract reporters are hired only when court reporters are unavailable or the existing workload is not sufficient to justify a full-time court reporter; and (5) reporters are not inappropriately using substitutes. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Judicial Conference of the United States | The Judicial Conference should prohibit official court reporters from engaging in private reporting activities not related to preparing official court transcripts when court is in session or when the reporter is otherwise required to perform court-related activities. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Judicial Conference of the United States | The Judicial Conference should terminate employment of any official court reporter who knowingly overcharges for transcripts or engages in prohibited private reporting work. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
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Topics
Cost controlCourtroom proceedingsElectronic equipmentFederal courtsLegal information systemsLegal recordsProgram abusesCourt reportingJudgesLaw courts