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If you want a vision of the future, imagine a wage slave typing: "I hate my job. I hate my job. I hate my job," on a keyboard, for ever. That's what a Manhattan court typist is accused of doing, having been fired from his post two years ago, after jeopardizing upwards of 30 trials, according to the New York Post. Many of the court transcripts were "complete gibberish" as the stenographer was allegedly suffering the effects of alcohol abuse, but the one that has caught public attention contains the phrase "I hate my job" over and over again.
We've collectively been around the professional block many times. What's the most spectacular flameout you've seen?
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I Hate My Job, I Hate My Job, I Hate My Job
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Hey, wait a minute!! I want a divorce!! ... you're not Clint Eastwood!!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by MrGuy on Thursday April 17 2014, @02:13PM
I get the desire to have a written transcript of what was said at a trial.
However, I question whether the current system of relying on a small, largely unmonitored pool of stengraphers capturing that written record in real time is the right solution.
There was a time when recording gear was sufficiently primitive where trained stengraphers were the only option available. That's far from true. Video and audio recording technology is really, really good these days. Have two systems for redundancy. You don't NEED real-time (other than for dramatic laywering "please re-read the question for the record," and you can do playback for that if you really want). If you need a written transcript, you can transcribe later (heck, have two people transcribe it and compare if you're paranoid about accuracy).
Not willing to go that far? Fine. Just have video to back up the humans. It's reasonably cheap insurance for exactly this kind of issue.
In this day and age, it's inexcusable for allowing one disgruntled human with no oversight the ability to sabotage the system.
(Score: 1) by SuddenOutbreak on Thursday April 17 2014, @02:23PM
The court system still clings onto Latin; I think swapping in electronics is a stretch.
One possible reason for live bodies; an independent witness in case things go funny. Tape recordings get "lost" all the time. Also: many trials are confidential or have confidential components. Video or audio recordings can all-too-easily end up widely distributed.
(Score: 2) by fishybell on Thursday April 17 2014, @05:02PM
I was in a court room, supporting a friend at his hearing, where when the judge walked in he told everyone that the recording equipment wasn't working that day and that anyone who cared could reschedule their hearing. None of the prosecutors or defendants' lawyers seemed to care all that much. Hearing after hearing after hearing went through before my friend's; no one ever voiced concern over the problem. Admittedly it was mostly hearings, but there were a couple of pleas and a at least one sentencing that I remember. Considering that typos [businessinsider.com] can land you in jail for years beyond what you were sentenced to I would sure want the recording equipment on.