California AG Bonta Calls State Court Reporter Law ‘Untenable’

California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) took the unusual step of opposing a state law before the state’s Supreme Court, arguing a prohibition on electronic recording by state trial courts in most cases is depriving low-income litigants of their due process rights.

His office filed an amicus brief in the pending case brought by a legal aid coalition demanding an option for low-income litigants to have their hearings electronically recorded when no court-employed reporter is available. The combination of a deep staffing crisis and limits on electronic recording is preventing Californians from getting verbatim records that are necessary to appeal ...