HAMILTON — The $45 fee Butler County Common Pleas Court charges for copies of compact disc recordings of tape transcripts is too high, says Jane Fitch, president of a Hamilton court-reporting firm.

        She says the “exorbitant” fee at the Common Pleas level is another example of the courts' alleged attempts “to protect the supplemental income of court employees” who produce transcripts.

        Among Ohio's 88 counties, Butler is only one of five counties that does not use d court reporters to produce transcripts, according to Ms. Fitch. In Butler County, court proceedings are recorded on either cassettes or CDs, then employees earn extra money transcribing them.

        Matthew Crehan, the court's administrative judge, said Fridaythe $45 fee is intended to cover the cost of the CD and the time of the employee to copy it.

        On Friday, Ms. Fitch was sworn in as an “official” court reporter in accordance with a request she made a month ago. As a result, Ms. Fitch said she was informed she will no longer be charged the $45 duplication fee.

        “This does not change or alter the issue,” she said. “The system needs to be corrected.”

Building the new Reds ballpark requires major league precision
Guardsmen on duty at airport
New runway's effects listed
City's bill for lawyer over limit
Arson likely in barn fires
City race issues analyzed
Man sentenced to 65 years in killing
Paideia schools rank low
Proof city's settling down: mayor monitors football
Tristate A.M. Report
UC hunts for spots to trim
Web site provides tax levy figures
Workers thought photos OK
SAMPLES: The Point
Antiques show back in old home
School adds adviser for kids
Transcribing fee called 'exorbitant'
Area emergency workers reflect on 9-11
Districts differ over funding
Education theme: 'Go Higher'
Harlan bids farewell to National Guard troops
Kentucky News Briefs
Oil tanks probably polluting
Public's wishes to be in park plans
Rescuers' fate hits hard
State faces possibility of more budget cuts