DeKalb judges outline modernization plans: live transcripts, courtroom tech upgrades and shift to certified guardians ad litem

Judges appearing at the DeKalb County budget hearing described several changes to court operations that they said will both reduce some subscriptions expense and modernize court operations.

One judge said he declined to renew a county subscription to Westlaw/Thomson Reuters after unsuccessful renewal discussions and moved those dollars within the submitted budget. The judge said the courts have begun using FTR’s cloud transcription and live‑transcription services; FTR provides both cloud backup and AI‑generated transcripts in real time, which judges and court staff said shortens the court‑reporter workflow and improves access for people who are hearing‑impaired via closed‑captioning capability.

Judges acknowledged implementation issues: older sound systems in some courtrooms remain incompatible with the new live‑transcript technology and will require additional upgrades to be fully interoperable. One judge showed a nearly complete capital‑improvement project in his courtroom and thanked the council for funding it.

Judges also discussed child‑welfare representation: the courts are shifting from CASA volunteer‑based advocates to certified guardian ad litem attorneys. One judge noted certified GALs must be trained and often are practicing attorneys (he singled out 'Mr. Swagger' as a case example), and said the county’s approach reduced costs while increasing qualifications and consistency for child‑representation work.

What happens next: Judges will finish remaining tech fixes, continue rolling out FTR to all courts and coordinate with IT to ensure future purchases are compatible with planned full upgrades. The county will continue to monitor expenses and potential savings from subscription changes.