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Access to courts: Cameras and recording equipment

The Supreme Court held in 1981 that the states may adopt rules permitting cameras and recording equipment in their courts.³⁴ Since then, all 50 states have done so, but the rules vary widely. In New York, the legislature has not renewed a series of successful camera experiments, but some judges have allowed cameras anyway. In some states visual and audio coverage is permitted in all types of court proceedings that are public, and in others such coverage is permitted only in appellate courts.

The Judicial Conference of the United States, which makes rules for federal courts, allows federal circuit courts to permit cameras in appellate arguments. Only two circuits, the Second Circuit in New York City and the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco, have voted to allow camera recording of oral arguments. In 1999, the American Bar Association launched a campaign for camera access to the Supreme Court.

In 2003, a bill was proposed in Congress to allow cameras in federal trial and appellate courts on an experimental basis. The bill would create a three-year pilot project that would give federal district court judges discretion to allow broadcast coverage of court proceedings. A similar experiment was conducted from 1991 to 1994 by the Judicial Conference, but was not made permanent.

For detailed information about visual and audio coverage of courts in a particular state, contact the Reporters Committee.

Notes

34. Chandler v. Florida, 449 U.S. 560 (1981).

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