Disquiet among court reporters over working conditions

Court reporters at the Supreme Court say they remain upset that their grouses over working conditions have not been resolved.

The Gleaner was informed that there is growing disquiet among the workers.

“We are now contemplating what is the necessary action to take to have the issues addressed,” a court reporter told the newspaper.

In July, the court reporters were upset with comments made by Chief Justice Bryan Sykes when they wrote to him complaining that they did not have the necessary tools to do their work.

Sykes, in response, queried whether the court reporters had been seeking dialogue on their resource issues.

“This is like a child pouting and standing in the corner saying 'you fix this'. Let us demonstrate greater maturity, thought and responsibility,” he said at the time.

However, some of the court reporters said today that despite their complaints of inadequate computers, staff shortage, being underpaid and overburdened with work,  the issues have not been addressed.

Court reporters are responsible for providing verbatim notes of proceedings in the circuit courts islandwide and also in civil cases.

In addition, they prepare the notes for judges on a daily basis and prepare transcripts of cases that are being appealed.

Meanwhile, the court reporter's office at the Supreme Court, which has been closed since last week because three members had tested positive for COVID-19, is to reopen on September 15.

The office has since been sanitised.

Although the office was closed, some of the court reporters say they have been working tirelessly from home to have the transcripts completed.

Following recent complaints that appeal cases were being held up because of outstanding transcripts, a court official said that more than 100 transcripts of cases have been sent to the Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court has been on recess since the end of July and is scheduled to reopen on September 16.

However, the court reporters say during the recess they still have to take verbatim notes at Gun Court case management sittings on Wednesdays and at the Western Regional Gun Court on Fridays.

- Barbara Gayle

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