Federal Court Transparency: Allowing Media Coverage of Proceedings.
This Act grants federal judges, in both appellate and district courts, the discretion to permit the broadcasting, recording, and photographing of court proceedings. This change aims to increase transparency by allowing citizens direct access to important legal cases. Crucially, the law includes safeguards, requiring the obscuring of witnesses' faces and voices upon request to protect due process rights and ensure personal safety.
Key points
Federal judges (appellate and district) gain the authority to allow media coverage (broadcasting, recording, photographing) of court proceedings, enhancing public access.
In district court trials, the face and voice of any non-party witness must be obscured upon their request to render them unrecognizable to the broadcast audience.
Media coverage of jurors or the jury selection process is strictly prohibited.
A presiding judge must deny media coverage if it is determined that the action would violate any party's due process rights.
The authority for district courts to permit media coverage will automatically terminate 3 years after the Act's enactment (Sunset Clause).
Expired
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