Trials could soon be speeded up and case backlogs reduced as Government pushes ahead with its court recording system.

The system was installed three years ago but a lack of transcribers meant it has been seldom used.

But now vendors are being sought to provide transcriptions for Supreme Court, judges? chambers hearings and Magistrates? Court.

Lawyers have long campaigned for the system as cases have to run at the pace at which the judge is able to take notes.

The new system can record hearings in Supreme Courts One, Two and Three, the Registrar?s chambers and in various judges? chambers.

The court reporting system is intended to transcribe summations as well as criminal proceedings that could possibly be appealed.

A Government statement said the initial contract will be for two years.

The vendor will be required to support the Supreme Court in recruiting and training Bermudians to assist them gaining internationally recognised certification as digital court reporters and transcribers through the National Training Board.

The vendor must use qualified personnel to carry out and certify the transcriptions.

Selected Magistrates? Court hearings will also be transcribed during the tender and in the end, digital recordings of hearings will become the official record of the court system, speeding up the processing of cases and reducing a backlog that means it can take three years for cases to be heard.

It is estimated 12,000 pages will be transcribed in the first year and 18,000 pages the next.

Tender documents can be obtained from The Registry of the Supreme Court on Front Street or e-mailed to emmrozgov.bm or cascottgov.bm with Supreme Court-Transcription RFP in the subject line.

Completed tenders must be submitted to The Registry of the Supreme Court by 4 p.m. on January 28.

Shadow Attorney General Trevor Moniz welcomed the news.

He said: ?It?s good that at long last the finances are going to be put in place and they will finally put this system in operation.?

But he said there was still work to be done with the physical plant of the courts and the Hamilton Police station.

He said: ?It?s deteriorated to a virtual slum.?