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Civil Procedure

Aug. 24, 2026

California's court recording mandate leaves questions unanswered

The California Supreme Court's new electronic recording mandate expands access to appellate review but leaves unresolved questions about disability accommodations, affordability and whether recordings alone can provide meaningful access to justice.

Megan A. Moghtaderi

Principal and Practice Group Leader for the Trust and Estates Department West
Offit Kurman, Attorneys at Law

Certified Specialist by the State Bar in Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate

Email: Megan.moghtaderi@offitkurman.com

See more...

California's court recording mandate leaves questions unanswered
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The California Supreme Court's recent decision in Family Violence Appellate Project v. Superior Court addresses a problem years in the making: a chronic shortage of court reporters that has left countless litigants without an official record of their proceedings and, in many cases, without a meaningful path to appellate review. In a unanimous opinion, Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero held that where an indigent litigant requests a verbatim record and cannot afford a pri...

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