Last week, Los Angeles’ Second District Court of Appeal told the Court Reporters Board of California that it could not revoke the license of court reporter Michael Hall, even though he had defrauded 24 subcontractors out of nearly $30,000.

The reason: While the Sacramento-based board can discipline misconduct that occurs “in the practice of shorthand reporting,” the appeal court said, it has no authority over a court reporter’s business or accounting practices.