NH court reporters named 2013 Legislative Activists of the Year
If this blog has shown anything, it's the idea that court reporting services often go overlooked in legal proceedings.
Whether it's their ability to go back into the record to recount what was said earlier in the trial or the accurate transcripts they produce in any hearing, court reporters are the unsung heroes of the legal system. So, when certain court reporters actually get their due, they've certainly earned it. Such was the case for Camille Palladino-Duffy and Michele York when they were named the 2013 Legislative Activists of the Year.
Since 2003, the award has been given by the National Court Reporter's Association (NCRA) Government Relations department to "recognize the extraordinary achievements of those who have supported the court reporting profession through advocacy in their state legislatures during the previous year," according to the NCRA website.
This year, the award was given to Palladino-Duffy and York for their efforts to fight legislation that would have shut down New Hampshire's Board of Court Reporters. In 2011, a bill that attempted to eliminate the board was met with fierce resistance by the New Hampshire Court Reporters Association (NHCRA), with the duo leading the way. By starting up a grassroots organization to gather support and partake in direct lobbying to lawmakers, Palladino-Duffy and York – along with the NCRA and the NHCRA Legislative Committee – prevented the bill from passing for over a year, before forcing it to dissolve in 2012.
Through their efforts, the pair of court reporters showed what members of their profession can do in and out of the courtroom, setting an example for their colleagues across the country. Those in the local legal system should take notice and make sure that their own Wisconsin court reporters get the acknowledgement they deserve – even if they don't have a special award for it.
