In
Washington State, broadcasting, televising,
recording and taking photographs in
the courtroom are governed by General
Rule (GR) 16
of the Washington Rules of Court.
Washington
Rules of Court, General Rule (GR)
16:
Broadcasting,
televising, recording and taking photographs
in the courtroom is authorized during
sessions of the court, including recesses
between sessions, under the following
conditions:
- Permission
shall have first been expressly
granted by the judge under such
conditions as the judge may
prescribe; and
- The
media personnel will not distract
participants or impair the dignity
of the proceedings.
Illustrative
Broadcast Guidelines (included with
the Rule, but not adopted formally
as a part of the Rule).
- Officers
of the Court. The judge has
the authority to direct whether
broadcast equipment may be taken
within the courtroom. The broadcast
news person should advise the
bailiff prior to the start of
a court session that he or she
desires to electronically record
and/or broadcast live from within
the courtroom. The bailiff may
have prior instructions from the
judge as to where the broadcast
reporter and/or camera operator
may position themselves. In the
absence of any directions from
the judge or bailiff, the position
should be behind the front row
of spectator seats by the lease
used aisle way or other unobtrusive
but viable location.
- Pooling.
Unless the judge directs otherwise,
no more than one TV camera should
be taking pictures in the courtroom
(as presently constructed) at
any one time. Where coverage is
by both radio and TV, the microphones
used by TV should also serve for
radio and radio should be permitted
to feed from the TV sound system.
Multiple radio feeds, if any,
should be provided by a junction
box. It should be the responsibility
of each broadcast news representative
present at the opening of each
session of court to achieve an
understanding with all other broadcast
representatives as to who will
function at any given time, or,
in the alternative, how they will
pool their photographic coverage.
This understanding should be reached
outside the courtroom and without
imposing on the judge or court
personnel. Broadcast coverage
outside the courtroom should be
handled with care and discretion,
but need not be pooled.
- Broadcast
Equipment. All running wires
should be securely taped to the
floor. All broadcast equipment
should be handled as inconspicuously
and quietly as reasonable possible.
Sufficient film and/or tape capacities
should be provided to obviate
film and/or tape changes except
during court recesses. No camera
should give any indication of
whether it is or is not operating,
such as a red light on some studio
cameras. No additional lights
should be used without the specific
approval of the presiding judge
and then only as he may specifically
approve as may be needed in the
case of appellate hearings.
- Decorum. Broadcast representatives’ dress
should not set them apart unduly
from other trial spectators. Camera
operators should not move tripod-mounted
cameras except during court recesses.
All broadcast equipment should
be in place and ready to function
no less than 15 minutes before
the beginning of each session.
|
