Bar Council president Trevor Moniz has slammed delays by courts in using recording facilities installed months ago.

The high-tech system, which cost a six-figure sum, has been ready since May but there was no sign yesterday when judges would begin accepting it has the official court record.

Registrar of Chambers Charlene Scott said: "The Chief Justice has to mandate it. We are making sure everything is consistent."

She said the system had to be synchronised throughout the courts.

Mr. Moniz said he didn't know the reason for the hold up.

He said: "It's the way forward obviously. There's been some capital expenditure and the period of time to iron out the wrinkles I would have thought had been long enough."

Currently decisions and appeals must be based on a judge's hand written trial notes which makes court proceedings very slow.

The new system records court sessions and transcripts are then produced.

Mr. Moniz said he would be bringing up the matter at the next bar counsel meeting.

Lawyer Juliana Jack travelled with colleagues in the States to view how other systems worked before Bermuda made its choice.

She said: "We did a lot of work researching and came up with an excellent system. The most advanced system has been installed and we are ready to go."

She said Bermuda would never have total respect for its judicial system until accurate transcribed records could be referred as the official court record.

"Obviously court reporting makes the judiciary more accountable. Their notes are not sacrosanct. They are not the official record.

"Everybody is more accountable. Lawyers can't misrepresent what the record was or selectively remember things. As a result it's much fairer.

"I am begging the powers that be, now in the judicial arena rather than the political arena, to make it start happening now."

"Now there seems to be a reluctance on the part of the judiciary to use what's there. If that's true it's hugely disappointing.

"We have gone through all the political channels to get here."

Defence lawyer Patrick Doherty said: "I can't wait for the recording system to come in."