WPCRA

Fellow Reporters:

The ACTL/ABOTA Trial Institute at the University of Wyoming School of Law will be held on the afternoon of August 16, 2024. There are six jury trials set with a full complement of student participants and judge panels.

Since the inception of the Institute over ten years ago, the Wyoming community of reporters has always come forward to provide the judges with a realtime feed when possible, but always providing participants with insight into the responsibility of making a record and the role of the reporter in that process. This is increasingly important as we see AI taking a larger role in everything from discovery to filings and a newer generation of tech-savvy attorneys entering the practice of law. This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage and educate soon-to-be lawyers about the importance of human reporters in the judicial system.

Please post me separately if you have questions and/or wish to volunteer to cover a trial. Judges in the state system were contacted last October to reserve time on calendars, so that may facilitate reporters’ availability. We start shortly after lunch and the trials generally last about three hours. The law school provides lunch if you want to arrive a little early, get set up and catch a bite.

The program has undergone a number of changes in the last couple of years as leadership at the School of Law has changed. There were struggles as there were efforts to discontinue the program. Fortunately, ACTL and ABOTA have been able to garner continued support and STI will be under the guidance of Shawn Mackey Geiger again this fall.

In the past, WPCRA has allocated funds to assist with expenses for
reporters coming from a distance who would need to have one night’s
lodging in Laramie. I look forward to hearing that we can once again provide reporters for each trial and participate in this learning experience.

Jan Davis
wyoirish@gmail.com