Court reporters from Los Angeles Superior Court who belong to the Service Employees International Union, Local 721 rallied downtown Wednesday against forcing litigants to hire their own reporters.
Rosalina Nava, a court reporter in Los Angeles County Superior Court, said the executives’ arguments are red herrings meant to make a move to electronic recording look inevitable.
A partir del 14 de noviembre, la Corte Superior de Los Ángeles no proveerá los servicios gratuitos de los taquígrafos judiciales para casos de derecho familiar o testamentos.
The L.A. County Court Reporters Assn. has pushed back on what they call “misconceptions” about the reporter shortage and offer what they call “easy solutions.” They also provide a document on the group’s website of recruitment suggestions.
According to Service Employees International Union 721, daily, private court reporter fees can cost anywhere between $800 to $2,000.
“We must reiterate that a court reporter fee-barrier is unacceptable. In our economically diverse state, we must demand a level playing field when our constituents enter the courthouse,” says California State lawmakers Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, Assemblyman Miguel Santiago and Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer.
Also present at Tuesday’s meeting will be Annette Ramirez, interim general manager of LA Animal Services, Larry Gross, president of the Animal Services Commission and representatives from the city attorney’s office and SEIU Local 721.
Mike Long, communications director for SEIU 721, which represents some Animal Services workers, said Friday that “more animals will continue to suffer” if the city doesn’t act. “We have to face facts — we need more dollars for staff and facilities because clearly, relying on the good will of volunteers and on private, one-time donations from pet-loving celebrities alone just isn’t enough.”