Era Comes To An End As MA Ends Use Of Court Reporters

FALL RIVER, MA - JUNE 22: Kathy Pallatroni, who is losing her job as a court reporter at the Fall River District Court, poses for a portrait in Fall River, MA on June 22, 2018. For more than a century, court reporters have held front-row seats in courtrooms across Massachusetts, chronicling countless hours of testimony, oral arguments, and sidebar discussions. But as of this week, the state is scrapping the position of court reporter, turning the bulk of the work over to digital recording equipment. The stated reason: to improve efficiency and process recordings and transcripts more quickly. The change is not going over well among some lawyers, prosecutors, and the court reporters themselves, who say this isnt how they wanted to leave their jobs. (Photo by Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)