Protecting the Integrity of the Legal Record Nationwide – A Formal Request for NCRA to Lead on ASR Policy Reform

Posted bystenoimperiumPosted inCourt ReportingTags:, , , , ,

A National Model Law to Regulate the Use of ASR and Preserve Human Oversight in Legal Proceedings

As part of this effort, I respectfully ask that NCRA spearhead a coordinated legislative campaign across all 50 states, using this proposal as a model law. NCRA can play a vital role by providing state associations with a standardized legislative template, policy talking points, and limited strategic support in advocating for adoption within their jurisdictions. By empowering local leaders with consistent resources, messaging, and guidance, NCRA can ensure a unified national response that protects the profession and upholds the integrity of the legal record in every courtroom, across every state.

LETTER TO NCRA LEADERSHIP

StenoImperium

June 26, 2025

To:
NCRA Board of Directors
c/o Marcia Ferranto, CEO
National Court Reporters Association
12030 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 400
Reston, VA 20191

Re: Proposal to Establish a National ASR Licensing and Oversight Policy Initiative

Dear NCRA Board of Directors,

I am writing to propose that NCRA take a national leadership role in advancing legislative protections around the use of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and AI in court reporting. Specifically, I propose that NCRA adopt and promote a model law prohibiting the use of ASR-generated transcripts in legal settings unless certified by a licensed stenographic or voice writing reporter.

The rapid and often unregulated proliferation of digital reporting and ASR threatens the integrity of our profession. These technologies, when used without qualified oversight, result in flawed records, erode public trust, and endanger due process. However, when responsibly managed by trained, licensed professionals, technology can enhance accuracy and efficiency.

I believe NCRA is uniquely positioned to spearhead a national policy initiative that defines this boundary and preserves the essential role of human accountability in legal recordkeeping.

Enclosed is a policy proposal and model framework for a national initiative titled the Court Reporter Certification and Automated Transcription Integrity Act. It is designed for flexible adoption by state legislatures, licensing boards, and judicial councils.

I respectfully request that NCRA consider adopting this model as part of its national legislative priorities, and that it provide support to state associations seeking to implement this framework at the local level.

I would be honored to assist in developing this initiative further, in collaboration with the Government Relations and Legislative Affairs Committee.

Thank you for your leadership, your advocacy, and your ongoing commitment to protecting our profession and the integrity of the legal record.

With respect and appreciation,

StenoImperium, CSR

📘 ENCLOSURE: NATIONAL POLICY PROPOSAL

Proposal Title:
Court Reporter Certification and Automated Transcription Integrity Act – National Model Framework

🔹 Proposal Summary

This proposal recommends the adoption of a national model law by NCRA and its affiliate associations to ensure that ASR and AI-generated transcripts may only be used in legal proceedings when reviewed, certified, and controlled by a licensed stenographic or voice-writing court reporter.

🔹 Core Principles

  1. ASR is a tool, not a substitute.
    Only trained, licensed professionals may use ASR within their authorized duties.
  2. Certified human oversight is mandatory.
    No ASR transcript may be considered official without review and certification by a licensee.
  3. Unlicensed ASR use is unauthorized practice.
    Any legal transcript produced by AI or ASR alone is inadmissible and illegal.
  4. Human responsibility cannot be outsourced.
    The final transcript must be tied to a human who bears legal and ethical responsibility.

🔹 Model Policy Language for States

“No transcript generated by Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) or artificial intelligence shall be considered official, admissible, or certifiable for use in court or deposition proceedings unless reviewed, signed, and certified by a licensed stenographic or voice writing reporter authorized in the state where the proceeding occurred.”

🔹 Implementation Strategy

  • Create a downloadable legislative toolkit for state associations
  • Provide model bill language and talking points
  • Offer training webinars on how to advocate for the policy
  • Encourage collaboration with bar associations and state licensing boards
  • Leverage NCRA’s Government Relations Committee for lobbying support

🔹 Benefits to NCRA and the Profession

  • Reinforces NCRA’s leadership in ethical tech policy
  • Protects the role of licensed reporters in every state
  • Helps prevent job displacement by unregulated automation
  • Preserves the accuracy and reliability of the legal record
  • Rebuilds trust with the legal community

To this date, 9/1/2025, I’ve received no response from the NCRA.

Published by stenoimperium

We exist to facilitate the fortifying of the Stenography profession and ensure its survival for the next hundred years! As court reporters, we've handed the relationship role with our customers, or attorneys, over to the agencies and their sales reps.  This has done a lot of damage to our industry.  It has taken away our ability to have those relationships, the ability to be humanized and valued.  We've become a replaceable commodity. Merely saying we are the “Gold Standard” tells them that we’re the best, but there are alternatives.  Who we are though, is much, much more powerful than that!  We are the Responsible Charge.  “Responsible Charge” means responsibility for the direction, control, supervision, and possession of stenographic & transcription work, as the case may be, to assure that the work product has been critically examined and evaluated for compliance with appropriate professional standards by a licensee in the profession, and by sealing and signing the documents, the professional stenographer accepts responsibility for the stenographic or transcription work, respectively, represented by the documents and that applicable stenographic and professional standards have been met.  This designation exists in other professions, such as engineering, land surveying, public water works, landscape architects, land surveyors, fire preventionists, geologists, architects, and more.  In the case of professional engineers, the engineering association adopted a Responsible Charge position statement that says, “A professional engineer is only considered to be in responsible charge of an engineering work if the professional engineer makes independent professional decisions regarding the engineering work without requiring instruction or approval from another authority and maintains control over those decisions by the professional engineer’s physical presence at the location where the engineering work is performed or by electronic communication with the individual executing the engineering work.” If we were to adopt a Responsible Charge position statement for our industry, we could start with a draft that looks something like this: "A professional court reporter, or stenographer, is only considered to be in responsible charge of court reporting work if the professional court reporter makes independent professional decisions regarding the court reporting work without requiring instruction or approval from another authority and maintains control over those decisions by the professional court reporter’s physical presence at the location where the court reporting work is performed or by electronic communication with the individual executing the court reporting work.” Shared purpose The cornerstone of a strategic narrative is a shared purpose. This shared purpose is the outcome that you and your customer are working toward together. It’s more than a value proposition of what you deliver to them. Or a mission of what you do for the world. It’s the journey that you are on with them. By having a shared purpose, the relationship shifts from consumer to co-creator. In court reporting, our mission is “to bring justice to every litigant in the U.S.”  That purpose is shared by all involved in the litigation process – judges, attorneys, everyone.  Who we are is the Responsible Charge.  How we do that is by Protecting the Record.

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