BAKERSFIELD, CA - State budget cuts will slice though Kern County Superior Court again next week. Beginning Monday, more services will be reduced and the court will no longer provide court reporters for family, civil, and probate proceedings. That leaves it up to the person representing themselves or their attorney to make sure they get a hard copy of the case.
Every word spoken in a courtroom, a court reporter catches in a hard copy.
"It is crucial. It is akin to the Hall of Records," said court reporter Sylvia Mendez-Sala, and owner of Sylvia Mendez and Associates.
"If you do not have your transcript, you basically have absolutely no legal record that that is verbatim of what just transpired in the courthouse," said Mendez-Sala.
But come Monday, if someone wants a transcript of family law, civil, and probate cases, they or their attorney will have to hire and pay for their own court reporter. Superior Court Executive Officer, Terry McNally, broke the news to court employees three weeks ago.
"Needless to say, they are unhappy. Obviously, when you reduce services, there's a great deal of turmoil and angst," said McNally.
The feelings stem from budget cuts. Not only will the reporters be cut, but on Monday, the Lake Isabella Branch will close, and the clerk's office, already hit once, will have their hours reduced. They'll now only be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday.
"It is a huge impact on our community," said Mendez-Sala.
Government Code Section 69957 says electronic recordings of cases for record are only allowed in misdemeanors, infractions, and civil suits involving little money. Everything else should have a court reporter.
"The appellate courts require that a transcript be attached. And, if you walk in there and you don't have a court reporter you will have no record," said Mendez-Sala.
Mendez-Sala says she and her associates will be offering their services at the courthouse until the changes catch on.
"I don't think Starbucks would ever have a drive-thru for coffee. And, similarly, we are set up at the courts now to serve the public," said Mendez-Sala.
"I don't doubt the initial week or two it's going to be a bit of a zoo, but hopefully we've given everybody reasonable notice about the changes so they can prepare for them," said McNally.
Even with the cuts, McNally says the court will be $3.5 to $4 million upside down entering the next budget which begins in July. They say they already plan to cut the Taft branch down to one day of service beginning September 9th.