News Releases
RTNDA President to Testify at House Hearing on Allowing Cameras into Federal Courtrooms
September 26, 2007
WASHINGTON -- Radio-Television News Directors Association President Barbara Cochran will testify tomorrow at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2007, which would give federal judges discretion to permit electronic media coverage of judicial proceedings. The hearing will begin at 1 p.m., Thursday, September 27, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Under present law, radio and television coverage of federal criminal and civil proceedings at both the trial and appellate level is effectively banned. The committee is considering legislation that would create a three-year pilot program under which all federal judges could allow cameras and microphones in their courts.
The ban on radio and television coverage at the federal level contrasts with state practice. All 50 states permit some kind of audiovisual coverage of court proceedings, with 43 states allowing coverage at the trial level.
RTNDA has long supported media access to state and federal courtrooms
“RTNDA’s members are the people who have demonstrated that television and radio coverage works at the state and local level,” Cochran said, “and they can make it work on the federal level.”
This bill (HR 2128) is sponsored by Reps. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Ted Poe (R-TX), and Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI).
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony for a companion bill (S 352) in February 2007. That bill is sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Wayne Allard (R-CO), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Arlen Specter (R-PA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Larry Craig (R-ID).
View the most current and comprehensive state-by-state guide to camera in the courtroom laws here .
Read a transcript of Cochran’s written testimony here.
The Radio-Television News Directors Association is the world’s largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA represents local and network news professionals in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries.
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