Sec. 1-11A. Media

Media

Coverage

of

Arraignments

(a) The broadcasting, televising, recording, or

taking photographs by media in the courtroom

during arraignments may be authorized by the

judicial authority presiding over such arraignments in the manner set forth in this section, as

implemented by the judicial authority.

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(b) Any media representative desiring to broadcast, televise, record or photograph an arraignment shall send an email request for electronic

coverage to a person designated by the chief court

administrator to receive such requests. Said designee shall promptly transmit any such request to

the administrative judge, presiding judge of criminal matters, arraignment judge, clerk and the

supervising marshal. The administrative judge

shall ensure that notice is provided to the state’s

attorney and the attorney for the defendant or,

where the defendant is unrepresented, to the

defendant. Electronic coverage shall not be permitted until the state’s attorney and the attorney

for the defendant, or the defendant if he or she

has no attorney, have had an opportunity to object

to the request on the record and the judicial

authority has ruled on the objection. If a request

for coverage is denied or is granted over the

objection of any party, the judicial authority shall

articulate orally or in writing the reasons for its

decision on the request and such decision shall

be final.

(c) Broadcasting, televising, recording or photographing of the following are prohibited:

(1) any criminal defendant who has not been

made subject to an order for electronic coverage

and, to the extent practicable, any person other

than court personnel or other participants in the

arraignment for which electronic coverage is permitted;

(2) conferences involving the attorneys and the

judicial authority at the bench or communications

between the defendant and his or her attorney or

other legal representative;

(3) close ups of documents of counsel, the clerk

or the judicial authority;

(4) the defendant while exiting or entering the

lockup;

ersonnel or other participants in the

arraignment for which electronic coverage is permitted;

(2) conferences involving the attorneys and the

judicial authority at the bench or communications

between the defendant and his or her attorney or

other legal representative;

(3) close ups of documents of counsel, the clerk

or the judicial authority;

(4) the defendant while exiting or entering the

lockup;

(5) to the extent practicable, any restraints on

the defendant;

(6) to the extent practicable, any judicial marshals or Department of Correction employees

escorting the defendant while he or she is in the

courtroom; and

(7) proceedings in cases transferred from juvenile court prior to a determination by the adult

court that the matter was properly transferred.

(d) Only one (1) still camera, one (1) television

camera and one (1) audio recording device, which

do not produce a distracting sound or light, shall

be employed to cover the arraignment, unless

otherwise ordered by the judicial authority.

(e) The operator of any camera, television or

audio recording equipment shall not employ any

artificial lighting device to supplement the existing

light in the courtroom.

SUPERIOR COURT—GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 1-11B

(f) All personnel and equipment shall be situated in an unobtrusive manner within the courtroom. The location of any such equipment and

personnel shall be determined by the judicial

authority. The location of the camera, to the extent

possible, shall provide access to optimum coverage. Once the judicial authority designates the

position for a camera, the operator of the camera

must remain in that position and not move about

until the arraignment is completed.

(g) Videographers, photographers and equipment operators must conduct themselves in the

courtroom quietly and discreetly, with due regard

for the dignity of the courtroom.

possible, shall provide access to optimum coverage. Once the judicial authority designates the

position for a camera, the operator of the camera

must remain in that position and not move about

until the arraignment is completed.

(g) Videographers, photographers and equipment operators must conduct themselves in the

courtroom quietly and discreetly, with due regard

for the dignity of the courtroom.

(h) If there are multiple requests to broadcast,

televise, record or photograph the same arraignment, the media representatives making such

requests

must

make

pooling

arrangements

among themselves, unless otherwise determined

by the judicial authority. The judicial authority shall

not mediate any disputes among the media

regarding pooling arrangements.

(i) On camera reporting and interviews shall

only be conducted outside of the courthouse.