Justice is getting a serious tech makeover, and California’s courtrooms are ground zero for an epic battle between human court reporters and the rise of artificial intelligence.

Imagine trying to appeal a life-changing legal decision, only to discover there’s no written record of your hearing because – plot twist – there aren’t enough court reporters to go around. Welcome to California’s judicial twilight zone, where over 1.7 million civil proceedings have been left without a transcript since 2023.

The Shortage Showdown

California’s court system is experiencing a major staffing crisis. The number of licensed court reporters has plummeted from 7,500 in 2010 to just 4,600 today, with nearly half eligible for retirement. This isn’t just bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo – it’s creating a two-tiered justice system where wealthy litigants can afford private reporters, while everyone else is left in legal limbo.

Tech to the Rescue?

Enter the potential savior: artificial intelligence. While unions are fighting tooth and nail against recording technologies, some tech experts see AI as a game-changing solution. UC Berkeley’s Nicole Holliday warns that current AI isn’t quite ready, highlighting issues with accent recognition and nuanced language understanding.

The Union’s Power Play

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is flexing its political muscles, pushing legislation that might actually complicate the court reporting landscape. With millions donated to legislators and a stronghold on policy-making, they’re determined to protect their members’ interests – even if it means potentially blocking technological solutions.

Bottom line: California’s court system is at a crossroads, and the future of justice might just depend on how we balance human expertise with technological innovation.