HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06061986 - 1.73 TO: Board of Supervisors " '7
FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator
DATE: May 22, 1989
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SUBJECT: LEGISLATION: AB 1854 (Speier)
Specific Request(s) or Recommendations(s) & Background & Justification
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a position in SUPPORT of AB 1854 by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, as amended April
24, 1989, which would authorize the use of an electronic recording device for all actions in
municipal,justice and superior courts whenever a court reporter is unavailable and request the author
to add an urgency clause to the bill.
BACKGROUND:
Under existing law civil actions and misdemeanor criminal proceedings in municipal or justice
courts may be recorded electronically whenever a court reporter is unavailable. AB 1854 would
expand this provision to provide that an electronic recording may be used for all proceedings in
municipal or justice courts and may also be used in superior court, in all cases providing that a court
reporter is unavailable.
The Municipal Court Administrator reports that he is having a severe problem in securing a
permanent court reporter for Judge Mesnick in the Bay Judicial District. There has been a vacancy
in this Court fora number of months and all efforts to recruit a court reporter have been unsuccessful.
The passage of AB 1854 would be of substantial assistance to the Municipal Court. Judge Mesnick
has specifically requested that the bill be amended to include an urgency clause so that this authority
would be available as soon as possible. Since there is such a pressing need for a court reporter in
the Bay Judicial District and since this bill would actually result in cost savings for the Court it is
recommended that the Board of Supervisors support AB 1854 and authorize the County Adminis-
trator to seek to have the bill amended to include an urgency he' l clause.� � .
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: NO SIGNATURE: A A./
X Recommendation of County Administrator Recommendation of Board Committee
iC //��Approve Other:
Signature(s): 6&&g6
Action of Board on: June 6, 1989 Approved as Recommended / Other
Vote of Supervisors
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
Unanimous(Absent ) CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
Ayes: Noes: ENTERED ON HE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
Absent: Abstain: OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
cc: County Administrator ATTESTED JUN 6 1989
Judge Samuel Mesnick PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD
Roy Chiesa,Municipal Court Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Len LeTellier,Superior Court Administrator
George Roemer,Director,Justice Systems Programs BY: Deputy Clerk
Assemblywoman Jackie Speier clvm:eh(ab1854bo)
Les Spahnn,Jackson/Barish &Associates