Prop 8 deliberations increase popularity of court transcripts
As the Supreme Court continues to deliberate on the legality of gay marriage as part of the judicial process on California's Proposition 8, the work of a certified court reporter has hardly ever seemed more important.
Due to the widespread interest and buzz surrounding the proceedings, media outlets are scrambling to acquire court transcripts and audio recordings of the justices' arguments during a given session.
Given that the topic has been so hotly debated, a high level of attention should be expected. But with the official record of the Prop 8 case becoming such an intensely scrutinized document, it's becoming clear why court reporting services are so deeply engrained in the legal system.
A court transcript is of public record, but it's unusual that such a horde of media outlets have descended upon a document. Every legal proceeding is crucial and deserves the very best in transcription services. However, when it comes to the Supreme Court and a case of this magnitude, every single quote from each session is going to be picked apart and thrust into the national spotlight. Such publicity is great for the court reporting community, which often goes under-appreciated when it comes to high-profile cases. However, with the latest trends in online media, more outlets are directly publishing audio recordings of the testimony on websites for the public to listen to. Even as early ago as a decade, such exposure would have been unthinkable.
With this new take on the way the public consumes court transcripts, it's important for those in the local court system to ensure that all transcripts and recordings are of the highest quality. Should a nearby case become national news, it will fall upon the back of Wisconsin court reporters to accurately transcribe and record everything that is said.
