OF NOTE. Georgia Chief Justice Michael Boggs warned lawmakers last week about the “growing crisis” of a lack of court reporters His solution: let the computers do (some of) it.

Boggs is backing a recommendation by the Judicial Council to give judges the option of using a digital recording system in lieu of a human being in some hearings. State Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, R-Bremen, is the primary author of a bill that would give judges the option to record proceedings such as arraignments, guilty pleas, bond hearings and any hearing where a witness does not testify.

Artificial intelligence apps have improved for transcribing recordings, but they’re not perfect, as any journalist will tell you. Still, this bill wouldn’t authorize AI to generate a transcript of a hearing. Recordings would still have to be transcribed and certified before they would be considered as part of the official record.

Lawmakers tried to help court reporters two years ago when they agreed to double their expense and travel allowances. But based on Boggs’ State of the Judiciary address last week, it hasn’t seemed to help much.

“This shortage is felt nationwide and has only gotten worse since I last spoke to you,” he said. “The consequences are very real because of delayed hearings in trial courts, delayed appeals to our appellate courts, and delayed closure for victims of crime.”

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