AI and digital reporting technologies are threatening the traditional court reporting profession, but court reporters can safeguard their careers by staying informed, embracing new tools, and advocating for the accuracy and integrity of the court record. Learn how to stay ahead in this evolving landscape and ensure your skills remain essential.
Category Archives: AI and the Legal System
AB 711 Passed—But Is It Really a Win? Why This New Law Signals the Next Phase in the Elimination of Certified Court Reporters
When a judge tells attorneys they “don’t need a court reporter”—despite one being present and assigned—the threat to justice becomes undeniable. AB 711 enables this erosion, shifting the burden of preserving the record onto attorneys while courts quietly sideline certified reporters. The result? Trials with no transcript, no appeal, and no accountability. This isn’t modernization. It’s judicial overreach.
Why Save Steno?
Stenographers aren’t relics—they’re the guardians of the record. In courtrooms where every word matters, only a trained human can ensure accuracy, context, and integrity. When we replace steno with machines, we invite errors, mistrials, and lost justice. This isn’t about resisting technology. It’s about protecting due process. Save steno—because once it’s gone, you won’t realize what you’ve lost until it’s too late.
When the Record Breaks – A Deposition Disaster That Proves Why Humans Beat Machines
During a deposition, an attorney slammed the table in frustration—causing a digital “court reporter” to lose a large portion of the testimony due to equipment failure. Unlike certified stenographers, machines can’t adapt in real time or ensure the integrity of the record. This incident is a stark reminder: when accuracy matters, only a trained, licensed court reporter can truly safeguard the legal record.
When AI Enters the Deposition Room – The Legal and Ethical Minefield of Unauthorized Recordings
Attorneys are increasingly attempting to use AI tools like Fireflies.ai to record and transcribe depositions—without proper authorization. These tools threaten confidentiality, compromise the integrity of the official record, and undermine the role of certified court reporters. Reporters must stand firm: unauthorized recording is not permitted. If challenged, document the exchange, contact your agency, and remember—you are the official record, and your judgment matters.
Protected: The Booth, the Database, and the Backdoor – How ILCRA’s Free Table at a For-Profit Event May Have Compromised Member Data
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
AI Summaries in Litigation – Efficiency or a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen?
An AI-generated deposition summary missed a crucial medical statement about future surgery, leading an insurance company to undervalue a case—and a jury later awarded millions over policy limits. Now the question is: Who’s liable? The law firm? The AI vendor? Or the court reporting agency that sold the product? As AI floods legal workflows, expect a wave of litigation over errors that never should’ve been automated.
Why Digital Recorders Are Not Court Reporters—And Why That Matters in California
Digital “reporters” are not licensed court reporters—and in California, their use is illegal in most court proceedings. Attorneys cannot stipulate around the law or sidestep due process. When the record is flawed, justice is compromised. A certified shorthand reporter (CSR) is not optional—it’s essential. Don’t be misled: replacing a stenographer with a recorder isn’t innovation. It’s a legal and ethical liability.
Are Paralegals Being Automated Out of the Legal Workforce? A Critical Look at Lexitas’ New AI Tool
Lexitas’ new AI tool, Deposition Insights+, claims to streamline litigation prep—but at what cost? By automating key tasks traditionally handled by paralegals and junior attorneys, this technology risks replacing human insight with algorithmic shortcuts. Legal professionals must ask: Are we empowering teams, or eroding jobs and skills? Efficiency shouldn’t come at the expense of accuracy—or accountability. The legal industry must tread carefully.
The High Cost of Convenience – How Digital Court Reporting Risks Destroying the Profession It Claims to Modernize
As court reporting agencies rush to adopt AI and digital tools, they risk undermining the very profession they rely on. Accuracy, ethics, and human expertise are being sacrificed for speed and cost. Agencies must choose: innovate with reporters, or replace them entirely—and suffer the consequences. The legal system deserves better than a transcript powered by hope and algorithms.
Why Whisper Can’t Replace Court Reporters in the U.S. Legal System
Canada’s Legislative Assembly proved AI like Whisper can assist—but not replace—human editors. Meanwhile, U.S. courts risk due process by adopting ASR without oversight. Speaker errors, misattribution, and data risks abound. Justice demands more than a “good enough” transcript. We must follow Canada’s lead: human-led, AI-assisted. The record—and constitutional rights—depend on it.
Not Optional – Why Stenographers Are Essential to the Constitution and Your Freedom
Court reporters aren’t just transcribers—they’re constitutional safeguards. Without a certified human creating the record, due process collapses. No accurate transcript means no appeal, no accountability, no justice. Stenographers ensure the truth is preserved, rights are protected, and freedom is upheld. Replacing them with machines doesn’t save money—it erodes democracy. Court reporters are the quiet guardians of liberty. Lose them, and you lose the record that protects us all.
Why Human Stenographers Still Outperform AI in the “Cocktail Party” Problem—and Always Will in Legal Proceedings
AI still can’t match human stenographers—especially in legal settings. From overlapping speech and accents to emotional testimony, the “cocktail party problem” is far from solved. Only a certified court reporter can deliver 99% accuracy, real-time clarification, and a legally admissible record. Don’t fall for the hype. Humans are still the gold standard.
Leadership in the Eye of the Storm
When the storm is coming and no one’s listening, that’s when true leadership begins.
In a dream, I saw tornadoes forming—and I was the only one who ran for shelter. That dream mirrors the reality of court reporting today. AI, ASR, and digital threats are merging—and too many are still sipping coffee. Here’s what it means to lead in the eye of the storm.
Human Oversight is Now Law – Virginia Leads the Nation with Groundbreaking AI Legislation Protecting the Judicial Record
Virginia just became the first state to legally require human oversight of AI in courtrooms. With HB 1642, justice stays human-centered—protecting certified transcripts, ethical decision-making, and the future of court reporting. This is a national model for balancing innovation with integrity.
The Ethical Crossroads of Technology in Law – Why Attorneys Must Defend Human Court Reporters
Attorneys have an ethical obligation to verify the integrity of the record. Yet ASR transcripts, often created without disclosure or certification, are slipping into legal proceedings unchecked. With error rates nearing 30%, no human accountability, and real risks to confidentiality, lawyers must take a stand. Certified human stenographers remain the gold standard. Accept no substitutes—your client’s rights may depend on it.
AI Might Be Cheaper—But It’s Gutting the Court Reporting Pipeline
Courtrooms aren’t podcasts—and AI isn’t ready to replace human court reporters. What’s at stake isn’t just jobs, but an entire pipeline: schools, certification boards, machine makers, and trained professionals. Once that system collapses, it’s gone. If we cut too deep, there will be no one left when AI fails. Choose accuracy. Choose humans. Choose us—while you still can.
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