Bill > SB704

This bill modifies existing West Virginia law regarding court reporting by expanding the methods for documenting court proceedings. Specifically, the bill allows circuit court judges to appoint court reporters or use electronic means approved by the Supreme Court of Appeals to record proceedings in civil and criminal cases, including grand jury testimony and proceedings during judicial vacation. The bill updates language to be gender-neutral by replacing "he" with "he or she" and replaces the term "competent shorthand reporters" with the broader term "court reporters". The appointed reporter, who will be designated as the "official reporter" of the court through a recorded order, must take an oath and is authorized to attend grand jury sessions, though they can be asked to leave when the grand jury wants to consult or vote privately. This update provides courts more flexibility in how they document and preserve judicial proceedings, potentially modernizing the reporting process by allowing electronic recording methods alongside traditional court reporting.

Justice

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=704&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill