JVCC committee recommends fines and revocation in two court-reporter matters involving Latoya Young

A complaint review committee of the Judicial Branch Certification Commission recommended on a motion passed by the committee that court reporter Latoya Young be assessed an administrative penalty in one matter and face permanent certification revocation in a separate matter.

The committee voted to accept staff findings that Young violated multiple provisions of the JVCC code of ethics in cause number 0714, a complaint filed by Sergio Hernandez alleging Young failed to provide a readable transcript after payment. The committee recommended a $1,200 administrative penalty, to be paid within 12 months of the final order. The committee separately accepted prosecutor recommendations in cause number 0796 — a complaint filed by Melinda Saucedo, JVCC compliance manager — that Young failed to timely file records in appeals before the Fifth Court of Appeals and in multiple other appellate matters; for that matter the committee recommended permanent revocation of Young’s court-reporter certification effective on the date of the final order.

Why it matters: Court reporters’ timely and accurate filing of appeal records is central to appellate review and defendants’ rights. The committee’s recommendations, if adopted by the full JVCC, would remove Young’s authority to serve as a certified court reporter and obligate her to pay the…