Bill to be presented to allow for recording of court proceedings

Minister Douglas

When parliamentarians meet on March 29 for the First Session of the Eighth Parliament at the House of Assembly, Minister of Legal Affairs Ian Douglas will introduce a bill for an act to provide for the recording and transcribing of court proceedings and related matters.

The objective of the bill is to make recording of court proceedings mandatory and the use of audio or video recording permissable in the courts.

The bill also seeks to provide for the transcription of court proceedings.

According to the bill, the presiding judicial officer, chief registrar, registrar or chief magistrate shall cause all court proceedings to be recorded.

It said that a person who is not a court reporter or transcriptionist shall not transcribe a record of court proceedings.

The record of the proceeding may be made mechanically, with the use of an audio or video recorder, electronically or by any other means directed. It can also be reproduced.

– DNO Correspondent

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7 Comments

  1. eddie
    March 31, 2010

    we should be like america so the case of nurse dyrample son would come up again and satt wouid provide the video

  2. LCM
    March 26, 2010

    I also would like to see a bill pass to allow patients to see there records and chart at the hospital and medical records and reports are made available to the appropriate familly memeber upon request.

    We are in the 21st century and Dominicans are not ignorant like 50 years ago. Some of these colonial stipulations need to be changed.

    Here it is we are in 2010 and only now we trying to record court proceedings.

  3. Celus
    March 25, 2010

    It is an idea whose time has come in DA.This is so yesterday elsewhere, but at least we are moving in the right direction-Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. Jayson
    March 25, 2010

    Great idea!

  5. Dr.Finger
    March 25, 2010

    Finally I can say good job Ian. Looks like you are awakening from your slumber. Now let us concentrate on setting appropriate guidelines for bail in cases of major and violent crimes.

  6. Vybez
    March 25, 2010

    YET!!!!!!!!!!! some media personals attend court hearings and quote the court officials verbatum and it is allowed….*smh*

  7. Law Abiding Citizen
    March 25, 2010

    It was about time this was introduced in our legal system. Better details of cases will be recorded instead of the old fashion pen & paper. It will help the court reporters also.

    And the media will always have a photo of all criminals that pass through the courts for their cases so the public will know & see exactly who they are.

    Once they organize the court room properly to accomodate these recordings, I Think This Is A Brilliant IDEA!!!

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