Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said the judiciary will soon embark on full automation under its five-year Strategic Plan for Judiciary Innovations (SPJI) to address the shortage of court stenographers and the difficulty to recruit new applicants to the positions.
Gesmundo said the delays in the submission of stenographic notes that affect court proceedings have impacts “on our people’s faith in the judiciary and their confidence in its ability to effectively and efficiently dispense the justice they seek in it.”
“Truly, the work of court stenographers serves as one of the unseen foundations of the rule of law in our country — foundations that are often unnoticed, but are no less important,” the top magistrate said in his speech during the convention of the Court Stenographers Association of the Philippines (COSTRAPHIL) in Dipolog City on Wednesday.
To hasten up the submission of stenographic notes during court proceedings, Gesmundo stressed the SPJI allows the use of artificial intelligence (AI) not just for court operations but also for stenographic work “to facilitate the speedy disposition of case.”
The Chief Justice said the use of AI-enabled voice-to-text transcription will be pilot tested in several courts.
Gesmundo also immediately allayed the fears of court stenographers who may think that full automation would make their jobs irrelevant in the courts.
“And we are aware that there are apprehensions from those who encounter the words reorganization, digitization, and automation, and hear downsizing and layoffs,” he said.
“Again, let me be clear: when we talk of pushing the judiciary forward through innovation, we mean exactly that — to propel the judiciary, in its entirety, forward. That means bringing everyone, including our court stenographers, in tow. Sa maikling salita: sa SPJI, sisiguruhin nating walang mapag-iiwanan (In short, with SPJI we will make sure that none will be left behind), the chief magistrate assured.
“While our efforts seem outward-looking, we have made it a point to uphold and promote the interest of all the women and men who comprise the judiciary, and who have dedicated their lives to service—like our court stenographers—for you deserve no less,” Gesmundo emphasized.
The Chief Justice made the push for the full automation as he noted that “with all this talk of technology, it could be all too easy to miss that these reforms are as much for us as they are for the public we serve.”
“We are not pursuing innovation for innovation’s sake: through digitization and automation, we will be able to unleash our potential and upgrade our skills for more meaningful work,” he assured.
“As we reorganize our systems and transform our processes, we are freed from the shackles of bureaucracy that limit our productivity, and we are empowered to lead happier and healthier lives.
“My hope is that these are the same ideas that we center on when we talk about the SPJI and our efforts to revitalize the judiciary. Alongside this, I call on our court stenographers to fully embrace technology in the performance of your duties, especially as we pursue reform through innovation,” he said.
“Harness it to work more efficiently and expeditiously. Invest in the skills and resources needed to enable the shift that we envision. Be active agents of reform, bearing in mind that these innovations are meant not to supplant us, but to support us.
“In performing your tasks efficiently and effectively, you help win back our people’s faith in our legal system. In exemplifying rigor and excellence in doing your duties, you help safeguard the rule of law,” he added.