Break the Law or Leave No Record, California Courts Face Dilemma

Shasta County Superior Court chose to tape its proceedings, in violation of state law, in 2021.

With no full-time court reporters on staff and none willing to travel to California’s Shasta County, the court had few options. Judge Daniel E. Flynn first used the practice during a murder trial that year.

It won’t be long before Los Angeles judges will need to follow Shasta County and electronically record felony and juvenile cases, Los Angeles Superior Court Executive Officer David Slayton told Bloomberg Law.

“We have put in place robust incentives to bring people in the profession to our court, as ...