Over the past 20 years, the number of Certified Shorthand Reporters in Texas has declined by 14% while the number of trial court benches has increased by more than 14%[i], creating delays in court proceedings and making it difficult for some jurisdictions to hold timely trials. The shortage of court reporters has real consequences for the justice system. Large counties like Bexar County have had to postpone court proceedings despite offering salaries exceeding $10,000 per month to attract reporters[ii]. Nearly half of current CSRs were first certified 30 or more years ago[iii], meaning retirement could further shrink the workforce in coming years. This creates both operational challenges and significant financial burdens for counties. In response to this challenge, the Texas State Legislature issued Senate Bill 1538[iv] to better understand the potential impact of Digital Court Reporting (DCR).

This research project will evaluate whether DCR can help address a critical shortage of Certified Shorthand Reporters in Texas courts while maintaining the accuracy and reliability of official court records. The study aims to determine if DCR technology – which uses digital audio recording equipment monitored by trained professionals and transcribed by certified specialists – can provide a viable alternative to traditional court reporting without compromising the quality of the legal record that is essential for trials and appeals. The study will help Texas courts, legislators, and judicial officials make informed decisions about whether and how to integrate modern recording technology in a way that ensures accurate records while addressing workforce and cost challenges.

To complete this project, we will use multiple methods to comprehensively evaluate DCR:

• Survey and interview judges, attorneys, court administrators, and court reporters across Texas to understand their experiences and perspectives.
• Compare costs between traditional and digital reporting methods across different-sized counties.
• Conduct a rigorous accuracy test of court transcripts created both before and after DCR implementation to objectively compare quality.
• Review how other states handle digital court reporting and document current DCR usage across Texas counties.

[i] https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461688/fy-25-annual-report-of-judicial-support.pdf

[ii] https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/analysis/html/SB01538S.htm

[iii] Morgan, R. and Behl. H., Court Professions: A Presentation to the Texas Judicial Council, June 12, 2025, Texas Office of Court Administration.  Austin, TX.

[iv] https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/analysis/html/SB01538S.htm