In Absence of Court Reporters Can a Judge Himself File a Synopsis of the Proceedings and is That Sufficient to Enable the Court to Review the Trial Errors ? In People v. Seals, 14 Ill. App. 3d 413, 302 N.E.2d 701 (1973), the State's Attorney was ordered to prepare a bystander's statement for a criminal bench trial in which no court reporter had been present. Seals, 14 Ill. App. 3d at 414. The State's Attorney did not comply with the order and, after several continuances, the trial judge himself filed a synopsis of the proceedings. Seals, 14 Ill. App. 3d at 414. The defendant also filed a statement of what took place which conflicted with that of the judge. Seals, 14 Ill. App. 3d at 414. Noting that the procedure set forth in Rule 323 had not been followed, this court found that the judge's statement was insufficient to enable the court to properly review the trial errors alleged. Seals, 14 Ill. App. 3d at 414. This holding, however, was based on the fact that the "brief summary supplied by the trial judge" contained "much conclusory language but not enough details for the appellate court to determine the propriety of the conclusions." Seals, 14 Ill. App. 3d at 414.