Assembly Resolution No. 754

BY: M. of A. Lentol

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
February 8-15, 2020, as Court Reporting and
Captioning Week in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks that are set aside to acknowledge the commitment and
tireless efforts of court reporters and the important services they
provide to the citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 8-15, 2020, as
Court Reporting and Captioning Week in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Court Reporting and
Captioning Week; and

WHEREAS, For millennia, individuals have wanted the spoken word
translated into text to record history and to accomplish this task have
relied on scribes; and

WHEREAS, The profession of scribe was born with the rise of
civilization; and

WHEREAS, In Ancient Egypt, scribes were considered to be the
literate elite, recording laws and other important documents and, since
that time, have served as impartial witnesses to history; and

WHEREAS, Scribes were present with our Nation's founding fathers as
the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights were drafted; and

WHEREAS, President Lincoln entrusted scribes to record the
Emancipation Proclamation; and

WHEREAS, Since the advent of shorthand machines, these scribes have
been known as court reporters and have played a permanent and invaluable
role in courtrooms across the country; and

WHEREAS, Court Reporters provide an important service to the
judicial process in New York State and throughout the nation; and

WHEREAS, Court Reporters are responsible for converting spoken words
into readable, searchable, storable and usable text and electronic
media; and

WHEREAS, As guardians of the record, Court Reporters' unique skill,
talents and diligent efforts historically have and will continue to have
a positive and lasting impact on many lives and serve as a model of
excellence; and

WHEREAS, In their role as an impartial record keeper, Court
Reporters serve as a vital link in providing access to justice for court
users and the public, thereby helping to build public trust in the
judicial system; and


WHEREAS, Court Reporters provide Communications Access Realtime
Translation (CART) to grant the deaf and hard of hearing community
access to justice, enabling the user to participate in their legal
proceedings and in jury service, as well as community proceedings, news,
entertainment and education; and

WHEREAS, By providing Real Time transcription during proceedings,
Court Reporters ably deliver the transcript to the parties and judges
instantaneously, greatly aiding the Bench and the Bar; and

WHEREAS, During National Court Reporting and Captioning Week, this
Legislative Body, the Association of Supreme Court Reporters within the
City of New York President Eric Allen and the members of its Board of
Directors wish to recognize the membership throughout New York City, as
well as court reporters throughout this great State and Nation, for
their diligence, dedication and tireless efforts in performing their
duties day in and day out; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim February 8-15, 2020, as
Court Reporting and Captioning Week in the State of New York; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; and Eric Allen, President, Association of Supreme Court
Reporters within the City of New York.