(a) State courts shall make available for the reporting of civil and criminal trials a court reporter, as defined in Code Section 15-14-22, or a digital recording system, as defined in Code Section 15-14-22, and as provided for by uniform court rules adopted and published by order of the Supreme Court with the advice and consent of The Council of State Court Judges of Georgia, subject to the laws governing same in the superior courts of this state, or both. Except as provided in subsection (k) of Code Section 5-6-41, the judge shall have discretion as to whether to use a digital recording system, as defined in Code Section 15-14-22.

(b) Reporting of any trial may be waived by consent of the parties.

(c) Appointment of a court reporter or reporters, as defined in Article 2 of Chapter 14 of this title, for court proceedings in each court shall be made by the judge thereof; the compensation and allowances of reporters for the courts shall be paid by the county governing authority and shall be the same as that for reporters of the superior courts of this state.