Proposed Rules Archives

• Proposed Changes to CR 80 (d) - Court Reporters - Supplemental Stenographic Record (in Word Format)
• Comments Received for CR 80 (d) - Court Reporters - Supplemental Stenographic Record

A. Name of Proponent: Washington Court Reporters Association

B. Spokespersons:

• Steve Crandall, Esq.
  WCRA Past President
  2200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 425
  Seattle, Washington 98136
  206.938.0348
  steve@promotionarts.com
• Phyllis Craver Lykken, CCR
  WCRA Past President
  Legislative Chair
  NCRA Past Regional Representative, Western Region
  917 Triple Crown Way, Suite 200
  Yakima, Washington 98908
  509.457.3377
  phyllis@centralcourtreporting.com

C. Purpose:

The purpose of adding a new subsection, (d), to Rule 80 is to allow a party to choose a court reporter at its expense in the event the superior court elects to use only an electronic recording device.

WCRA recommends that Civil Rule 80 be changed to allow parties to engage certified court reporters where a superior court has elected to use only an electronic recording. WCRA appreciates that electronic recordings can be a less expensive method of recording oral proceedings in the first instance. However, electronic recordings have several significant drawbacks. First, the recording system can fail, which in the worst case may require a new trial, a hugely expensive risk for litigants. Second, even if the system functions properly, an appellant will often have to pay more for a verbatim report of proceedings based on an electronic recording than one derived from stenographic notes. The reason is that a court reporter or transcriptionist must spend significantly more time transcribing recorded testimony than live testimony. Third, in multiday trials, litigants often want same day transcripts in order to prepare for subsequent days. If a proceeding is only recorded electronically, that recording must be obtained and then be transcribed by the court reporter after the trial day has ended, doubling the time required for a party to receive a transcript. Thus, while electronic recordings may reduce court costs they can significantly increase costs for litigants.

Therefore, if a party is willing to bear the cost of engaging a court reporter, Rule 80 should not prevent that party from doing so.

D. Hearing: WCRA requests a hearing.

E. Expedited Consideration: WCRA requests expedited consideration.