Oklahoma AI Courtroom Recording Program Approved by Supreme Court
Oklahoma Supreme Court Approves AI Courtroom Recording Program Amid Critical Court Reporter Shortage
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has approved a three-year pilot program allowing artificial intelligence-assisted transcription and cloud-based recording in selected courtrooms, marking a significant change in how the state's judicial system documents legal proceedings. The initiative comes as Oklahoma faces a serious shortage of certified court reporters, leaving 75 of the state's 198 authorized positions vacant.
The Oklahoma AI courtroom recording program will test whether speech-to-text technology can help courts maintain reliable records of proceedings when certified reporters are unavailable. Although the technology will capture courtroom testimony and produce preliminary transcripts, AI-generated documents will not replace official court transcripts, which must still be prepared and certified by qualified human court reporters.
Oklahoma AI Courtroom Recording Program Addresses Reporter Shortage
According to the Oklahoma Supreme Court's 2026 OK 73 order, the pilot program establishes procedures for using speech-to-text recording technology and secure cloud storage in designated district courtrooms.
With nearly 38% of authorized court reporter positions vacant, the shortage presents challenges for courts responsible for documenting testimony, legal arguments and judicial rulings.
The Administrative Director of the Courts, with approval from the Supreme Court's Chief Justice, will select participating locations, prioritizing judicial districts experiencing difficulty securing certified reporters.
The Administrative Office of the Courts will provide the necessary recording equipment, software and technical resources.
Presiding judges will retain discretion over whether the technology is appropriate for individual proceedings, considering the type of case, fairness to participants and availability of a court reporter.
AI-Generated Transcripts Will Not Replace Certified Court Reporters
Under the new rules, only a certified court reporter can prepare and certify an official transcript for use in court proceedings.
Automated recordings and preliminary AI-generated transcripts will be classified as judicial work product rather than official court records.
The recordings, transcripts and associated data will not be available through Oklahoma Open Records requests, administrative records requests or subpoenas. They also will not be published through the Oklahoma Supreme Court Network.
The order additionally prohibits using courtroom recordings or generated data to train or improve artificial intelligence models. These safeguards are intended to protect sensitive testimony and preserve the rights of people involved in legal proceedings.
Supreme Court Pilot Raises Questions About Technology and Fairness
The program will operate under Part XIV of the Oklahoma Supreme Court Rules for three years, allowing officials to evaluate whether automated transcription can reduce courtroom delays and improve recordkeeping.
The court's order identifies potential benefits including lower travel costs, more flexible court reporter assignments and fewer postponed hearings.
However, the decision was not unanimous. Justice Tom Colbert Combs dissented, criticizing the court for adopting the rules without seeking input from a court reporter task force established in 2017.
The dissent highlights an important question surrounding the program: whether technological solutions can address staffing shortages without compromising the accuracy and integrity of courtroom records.
The pilot will help determine whether Oklahoma eventually expands speech-to-text recording technology to additional counties.
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