Local judges get final say on cameras in courtrooms

The Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to allow cameras during trials on a limited basis. Photo used under Creative Commons from flickr user Erin Nealey)

BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday gave judicial circuits the option of allowing cameras in courtrooms for the first time, but it will ultimately be up to the local judges themselves whether such access is ever granted.

Judges in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, which includes McLean, Ford, Livingston, Logan and Woodford counties, will meet in early March and discuss their options and the logistical challenges involved, Chief Judge Elizabeth Robb told WJBC. If the judges want to proceed, the circuit would apply to the state’s high court for approval in the program, deemed “experimental” and “case by case” in Tuesday’s order.

PDF: Read the Illinois Supreme Court’s full 8-page order.

It would likely be several months or longer before cameras would appear in McLean County, she said. She said the logistical hurdles include where to place the equipment in a non-intrusive way. She also said some courtrooms in the five-county circuit aren’t large enough to allow such equipment systems, especially in her smaller courthouses.

“They’re just not large enough to accommodate any kind of equipment,” Robb said.

Putting in safeguards

McLean County State’s Attorney Ron Dozier, a retired judge, said he is pleased to see the Supreme Court has put in place some safeguards in its order. Dozier said judges would have the flexibility to exempt some witnesses from testifying on camera.

“Particularly those with very difficult situations, sexual assault victims, informants and (witnesses) like that who are afraid of retaliation (should be exempt),” Dozier said.

The high court ruling allows for the cameras on a limited and experimental basis. Dozier said he doesn’t have strong feelings either way, but says a potential drawback to cameras in the courtroom would be enabling some attorneys to play to the cameras.

“We don’t want to turn ourselves into entertainment. If people want entertainment TV, there are plenty of judge shows people can watch,” Dozier said.

Media outlets across the state are figuring out what the ruling means.

Jennifer Fuller, president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, said she was surprised to hear the announcement. She said this will allow journalists to tell a more comprehensive story.

“Imagine when people are trying to understand why a jury makes a decision and the way that it does, this helps you understand what the jury saw, what the jury heard,” Fuller said.

Organization leaders and media outlets are still reading through the announcement and translating what it means. Fuller said journalists will next work with judges on how to make an easy transition.

“The other thing that we’re going to do is we’re going to work to train the journalists in Illinois and in border markets who are members of our organization,” Fuller said. “This is going to be a change for us too, and it’s going to mean that we will have a learning curve. We have to understand where we can be in the courtroom, what we can do, and how that’s all going to work.”

When it comes down to it, Fuller said judges will still be in charge of their courtrooms.

Since INBA started in the 1950s, the organization has fought for cameras in the courtrooms.

To listen to Fuller’s interview with WJBC’s Beth Whisman, click below:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

WJBC’s Eric Stock and Ryan Denham contributed to this report.