(From this week’s Minnesota Newspaper Association Bulletin.)
Friday, July 1, marks the start date of the pilot project on cameras in Minnesota courtrooms that has been authorized by the Supreme Court. Under the terms of the pilot, video and audio devices may be used in trial courtrooms throughout the state, subject only to permission from the presiding judge.
This is a break from the rule that prevailed over the past 30 years, under which the judge and all of the attorneys needed to give permission, which of course hardly ever happened.
Initially, the pilot project will be limited to civil proceedings, with criminal cases excluded. However, there’s reason to believe that if the pilot shows that cameras and other recording devices do not cause serious problems, the high court will expand the scope to include criminal actions as well.
Recording devices that will be permitted include not only standard television cameras, but camcorders, still cameras, and devices that record only audio. Laptops and even cell phones are presumably covered as well, if acceptable to the presiding judge.
In order to avoid an ad hoc, inconsistent, and potentially confusing procedure for requesting access, the Supreme Court has asked that a system of media coordinators be set up around the state.