Federal Court Transparency: Allowing Media Coverage of Trials and Appeals
This law grants federal judges, including those in the Supreme Court, the discretion to permit the broadcasting and recording of court proceedings. It mandates privacy protections in district courts: non-party witnesses can request their identity be obscured, and jurors are prohibited from being shown on camera. The judge's decision to allow coverage must not violate any party's due process rights.
Key points
Federal judges (appellate and district) can allow media coverage unless it violates any party's due process rights.
In district courts, non-party witnesses have the right to request their face and voice be obscured to remain unrecognizable.
Broadcasting or recording of jurors or the jury selection process is forbidden.
The authority for district courts to allow coverage expires after 3 years and requires mandatory guidelines for protecting vulnerable witnesses first.
Status:
Introduced
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