Rule 1-11A. 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.

(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;

(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.

(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.

(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.

Committee Notes

amended June 20, 2011, to take effect Jan. 1, 2012; amended June 10, 2022, to take effect Jan. 1, 2023.)