A lack of court reporters in South Carolina — trained stenographers who transcribe verbatim records of proceedings — is causing last-minute cancellations of hearings ranging from divorces to criminal pleas. To officials and observers, this means time wasted, taxpayer money lost and added stress on victims, witnesses and families. While court reporters often blend into the background, proceedings grind to a halt in their absence. "It's one spoke in the whole gear, but it's stopping up the whole system," said 15th Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson, who oversees prosecutions in Horry and Georgetown counties. "Everybody's been impacted." More than a quarter of court reporter positions within.....MORE

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