The state agency that oversees fair employment has launched an investigation into alleged job discrimination in the Orange County Superior Court system that union leaders say is delaying trials, according to the O.C. Register.
Orange County Court reporters make about $70,000 a year, not the $100,000 per year that the O.C. Superior Court administration referenced in the Register’s article.
Since the court administration cut court reporters hours, they make about $20,000 less a year because of the 35 hour work week and also additional benefit costs. Also the reporters have to work more years to earn their retirement since they aren’t full time.
There are only about 80 court reporters (mostly women) and they are the only ones being treated this way by the court. Judges, attorneys, probation officers, deputies, clerks, interpreters, and janitors are all paid 40 hours a week. Also court reporters in the surrounding counties (LA, San Berdanino, Riverside, & SD etc.) are paid full time.
No trial, motion or hearing can proceed in the courtroom without the court reporter copying everything down. So why are the Court administrators screwing our court reporters?
We are hoping that the new California Fair Pay Act will result in significant fines for the O.C. Superior Court!