Should Cameras Be Kept Out of the Courtroom?

In today’s world, it seems everything is going online, including the courtroom and juries. Now days, it seems that even the courtroom is going electronic. What do the justices have to say about courtrooms now going electronic? Most justices oppose cameras in the courtroom for the following reasons: they create images of justices educating the public about their work with the process of publishing books, appearing on television, or even creating websites. It also deconstructs the mysticism of limited aspects of the courtroom. As the courtroom goes electronic, more and more justices are opposing cameras in the courtroom. There seem to be some concerns where cameras would be a problem in the courtroom. Public access to the Supreme Court would show many contexts of courtrooms which would include congressional hearings. While Americans seem to know less about the Supreme Court than any other institution, the Court wouldn’t be able to decide on political issues, which would make making decisions on the different issues unfamiliar to the public. In the past two branches of government have prepared the public for years by showing access to the courtroom, the main one being C-SPAN, most notably being called “America’s ultimate reality show,” which airs congressional hearings. It contributes to educating the public in three ways: the public gets to see government in action; the public is educated on the issues; and the public is encouraged to exchange ideas for solving its political issues (McElroy). In the state of Missouri, they adopted a policy to adopted the Court Operating Rule 16 that allowed access to broadcast, televise, record, and still photography in eleven judicial courts and appellate courts in Missouri, in September 1992. They revised the rule in October 1994 cameras in all Missouri courtrooms which went into effect on July 1, 1995. Having placed certain guidelines on such issues like advance notice to media, placement of cameras in the courtroom, and restrictions on camera or audio equipment, the state of Missouri recognized that although it is not a constitutional right, but a means of making the judicial process of the courtroom available to all citizens (Missouri). As far as technology has come, it is inevitable that cameras in the courtroom would be allowed in the courtroom. But as long as it is used in a dignified and respectful manner and the justices and judges are granted the authority to “kill” such evidence that would make evidence in a trial too graphic, allowing camera in the courtroom should not be an issue in today’s US courtrooms. References Reference McElroy, L. T. (2012). Cameras at the Supreme Court: A rhetorical analysis. Brigham Young University Law Review, 2012(6), 1837-1899. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1326781925?accountid=158416 Cameras in the Courtroom. www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=690.