Budget tightening and the existence of alternate technology has doomed the group of 18 to extinction.

On July 1, 2009, all district court cases will be recorded solely by digital camera equipment already in use.

"We decided we couldn't afford to have both [cameras and court reporters]," said state Court Administrator Dan Becker, who added the layoffs will save the courts more than $1 million per year.

"These are very difficult decisions where you've got people involved," Becker said. "But this was an instance where we had an alternate way of doing business."

One of the casualties: 73-year-old court reporter Milo Harmon, who has more than four decades of experience and can still type like crazy - up to 300 words per minute in short bursts.

"It's kind of a bitter pill," said Harmon of the layoffs. "It's a profession that's been around practically since the beginning of time, in one form or another. To have it done completely away with is difficult when you've dedicated so much of your life to it."

He added, "The system won't crash and burn without us, but won't operate as smoothly."

Bunny Neuenschwander, the managing reporter for 3rd District Court, said news of the layoffs came as a shock to her and the seven court reporters she oversees. Neuenschwander added that court authorities may regret the layoffs.

The digital equipment produces a DVD of "fairly decent quality," said Harmon. But he said electronics are no substitute for a live human being.

Harmon said there are a variety of courtroom situations that can result in gaps in the court record, which appellate courts rely on to review cases.

"If I didn't hear something or understand something, I can say, 'I didn't get that', or say, 'Your honor, please have them speak one at a time,' " he said.

What happens when an attorney or the judge wants a portion of testimony read back to them, Harmon asked. And when an attorney needs a transcript of a hearing in a hurry, a court reporter "can get it out overnight," Harmon said.

He said many newer court reporters can produce accurate real-time transcripts, which allow attorneys and the judge to follow along on laptops.

In federal court, "there is no plan whatsoever" to lay off or reduce the work hours of seven court reporters, according to D. Mark Jones, clerk of the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City.

Becker said he has heard no concerns from judges about the layoffs and said appellate court members on the policymaking Utah Judicial Council claimed to have noticed no difference in records prepared by contract transcriptionists - which will be used to transcribe all court records after June 30 - and those produced by state-employed court reporters.

Becker added that the courts should be able to accommodate requests for overnight transcripts. With digital technology, a DVD can also be sent directly to an attorney's office, he said.

The Judicial Council has also approved 21 other cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze, deferral of building improvements and reductions in educational programs and travel expenses.

Becker noted that budget cuts during times of economic strife are "a double whammy" for the court system, because case filings always go up.

Civil cases - such as contract disputes, debt collections and foreclosures - are already on the increase, he said.

shunt@sltrib.com

Legislators called for big cuts in spending

The Utah Judicial Council approved the layoffs of court reporters, as well as many other cuts, under orders from the Legislature to reduce spending during the current fiscal year by more than $3.5 million.

Still to come: more than $4.4 million in permanent budget reductions for fiscal 2010.

Such cuts are "very hard on the courts because 85 percent of our budget is personnel," said Court Administrator Dan Becker. "There is very little we can do before it affects personnel."

Court reporters make from $38,377 to $71,681 per year, depending on their skills, experience and certification, said court spokeswoman Nancy Volmer.