Litigation

TV Pilot Project Approved for Federal Civil Trials

By Peter Hardin

The Judicial Conference, which sets policy for the federal judiciary, has agreed to a pilot project that could bring about televising of some civil trials.

At the same time, the Arkansas Supreme Court announced it would launch live streaming of the video of oral arguments to the court’s website.

At the federal court level, the pilot project envisions recording of civil trial proceedings when participants consent, according to a USA Today article; it does not permit recording of jurors’ faces.

The Judicial Conference governs trial and appeals courts but not the U.S. Supreme Court. In the early 1990s, a similar pilot project garnered generally favorable reviews, but the Judicial Conference subsequently renewed its ban on televised proceedings, the Associated Press reported.

In Arkansas, Chief Justice Jim Hannah said, ?We are committed to provide a greater access to justice and to facilitate a better understanding of the judiciary,” according to an Arkansas News article.

In January, the U.S. Supreme Court barred broadcasting the historic same-sex marriage trial in San Francisco by a 5-4 margin. The majority wrote that it was not judging cameras in the courtroom but rather was narrowly addressing lower courts? procedure in trying to change the rules. Learn more about the controversy in Gavel Grab.

Full post as published by The Gavel on September 15, 2010 (boomark / email).