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Bar News - November 5, 2004 Manchester Bar Supports Stenographers THE MANCHESTER BAR Association last month voted to support the retention of official stenographic reporters by the superior court. The petition signed by several dozen attorneys states "the undersigned members respectfully petition that stenographic court reporters be retained, that stenographic reporting continue and that the elimination of stenographic reporters be stopped." The petition is in response to the NH Supreme Court's plan to phase out all of its official reporters by June 2005 as an economy move. The reporters are being gradually replaced by automatic digital recording equipment that is monitored by trained, nonprofessional-level court staff. The recordings are then outsourced for transcription. The stenographers, represented by Manchester attorney David L. Nixon, have sued the Administrative Office of the Courts, alleging that the elimination of the reporter positions breaches promises made by several judges that reporters' employment would not be terminated by the substitution of recording equipment. The case is on appeal to the NH Supreme Court and will be heard by a panel of substitute justices, drawn from the ranks of retired judges. At presstime, the panel consisted of former Supreme Court Justice Sherman D. Horton; and retired Superior Court justices Robert Temple; Robert B. Dickson; George S. Pappagianis; and Vincent P. Dunn. The Manchester Bar discussed the issue at its Oct 19 meeting. Among those criticizing the plan was Superior Court Associate Justice James Barry and Manchester attorneys Richard Joyal. What's Your Opinion? What do you think of the court's plan to completely replace court stenographers with recording equipment? Do you have concerns about the ability of monitored recording equipment and outsourced transcripts to produce an accurate and complete record of trial court proceedings? Send your comments to dwise@nhbar.org.
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