1989-03-24 Comments of Star Tribune.pdf - Minnesota Judicial Branch

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--On most such occasions, the news media people decided not to proceed with the, filming or photographing. ,I Judges reported that generally the more sensational criminal trials attracted the news.medla, but also there appears to have been coverage of a variety of other court matters. Examples of matters I covered Include sentencings, arraignments, contested divorce.actlon, announcing an opinion in an afflrmatlve action case, legal arguments concerning porpography, a dispute between state penltenitlary guards and Department of Social and Health Services, injunctlbn relief, summary judgment regarding school Issue, intra-political party dispute, I motion calendar arguments and zoning.disputes. Judges also reported there was coverage of a traffic appeal, a civil trial involving "clear cutting of timber", ,a civil trial Involving "liability/damages of nine I ,, adjoining land owners . versus an auto race track", and 8' variety of other situations when the news media gathered educational or background' "I material. At least 60 occasions of news media eduipment in the court 'I can be documented by the survey. Some judges reported !I?' camel -as, sti cameras, or recording equipment in the courtroom during a number of arraignments or preliminary matters without giving the exact count. The survey Indicates at least 60 news media appearances in court and probably no more than 80 during the nearly two-year period of review. NEGATIVE RESPONSES Of the 41 judges reporting at least one experience with , the news media-equipment in the courtroom, only seven reported a negative experience. One negative'response stated the equipment was 'obvious' but not noisy and that the equipment "had the effect of creating un- ! . :I I I 8 1
L realistic posturing and extended, long-winded arguments. Each counsel departed from the legal ISSueS frequently In an attempt to upstage the .opponent.. l Rule. ” recommend greater restrictions than presently in the One comment considered negative in the statistics cited above stated that the judge had”mlxed reactions” about the cameras in the courtroom on two different occasions. A local bar association criticized one judge for allowing even limited TV camera and still camera coverage of a murder trial. Although the judge stated he did not “have any particular diffictilty” he was concerned about the strong reaction by the bar association and indicated he may be slow to grant permission In the future. A differentiation between extended hearings and brief . hearings was made by one judge. He stated that during the long hearing which lasted for several days, one TV camera and tape recorder “were not disruptive” and that “all media personnel. were cooperative .” On the other hand, he stated that on a brief hearing, “multiple cameras and recorders. . .did adversely affect the dignity of the court” and he indicated reservations on allowing media equipment in the courtroom during brief’matters. One judge commented that he believed the “movie cameras” in the courtroom during a trial (by approval of the Supreme Court before the amendment of CJjA(7)) affected the verdict. After another experience Fecently with video tape tiecording equipment in the courtroom during a trial, the judge stated, “1 have changed my mind.” In addition, he commented that even if the cameras in the courtroom did affect the jury verdict, he was not sure that was inappropriate since
Page 1 and 2: Patricia Hirl Longstaff Associate G
Page 3 and 4: In Re Modification of Canon 3A(7) o
Page 5 and 6: In Michigan, as in the overwhelming
Page 7 and 8: supervisory responsibility. (See pa
Page 9: The report also emphasizes the pivo
Page 12 and 13: -v 32. CYJ 33.45 8.5% . 3.2% 2.85 2
Page 14 and 15: I 1 I I a I 8 a a I 1 a 8 I a a I a
Page 16 and 17: d a. Artorsey . 93 .39 . 3s .a9
Page 20 and 21: like judjclal decisions, jury verdi
Page 22 and 23: of this pxpcbrience, I nm lOOX in f
Page 24 and 25: APPENDIX SURVET SUMARY TABLE OF CA?
Page 26 and 27: Result D: The presence of the elect
Page 28 and 29: Table 3 To what extend did the pres
Page 30 and 31: Not at All Slightly Moderately Very
Page 32 and 33: 1. Too much pretrial publicity. Tab
Page 34 and 35: Table 12 To what extent did the pre
Page 36 and 37: C. Attorney Only: Questions and Com
Page 38 and 39: 4. The presence personnel, persons
Page 40 and 41: Table 9 TO what extent were court p
Page 42 and 43: 12. Believe it to be benficial. 13.
Page 44 and 45: 5. The positioning of the cameras i
Page 46 and 47: 3. The page Commission 3, Rule 7, r
Page 48 and 49: L L Mailinq: SUMMARY OF EVALUATION
Page 50 and 51: PHYSICAL DISRUPTION CLASSIFICATION
Page 52 and 53: L.. I i. k. PREJUDICIAL PUBLICITY A
Page 54 and 55: : I : . SELECTIVE COVERAGE Accordin
Page 56 and 57: -. PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT The evaluat
Page 58 and 59: -. I i-. 13. 82% of the judges and
Page 60 and 61: -. ] i- I I L- 7. 55% of the judges
Page 62 and 63: VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Page 64 and 65: 0 The media's predominant interest
Page 66 and 67: at the forefront of the "cameras in
Page 68 and 69:
Clearly, the number of "uneventful"
Page 70 and 71:
. It is possible that when measured
Page 72 and 73:
The issues involved in the decision
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‘an 306 Townsend Street Lansing,
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1. Still Camera Shutter Noise Obser
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jurors are more negative towards EM
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._.,. proceeding and the number of
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permanent basis, it is the opinion
Page 84 and 85:
Media coverage of judicial proceedi
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. tunity to negotiate with the medi
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The first group is a vocal minority
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function of jurors and demonstrate
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The judicial system plays a Special
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Minnesota State Bar Association; th
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Nancy Reid, reporter, KDLH-TV, Dulu
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Commission Rule 3.03 provides that
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e effective. 5. Court rules or stan
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for reports of important news event
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the difficulty in impaneling a jury
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witness was very firm in asserting
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conducted for the purpose of explor
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maintain constraints on the media r
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12. The Petitioners have failed to
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and that there be no modification o
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inding 010 a verdict and 'he passag
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The charge to the jury was somewhat
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Chapter 7 CAMERAS IN COURT I. INTRO
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19% REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE
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t i I I i I , ’ _ .b I 1985 REPOR
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I- _. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
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Order Entcrrd: January 13, -1989 87
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(d) Media agency representatives sh
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8, 8; I 8, I 8 8 a&-. DEC 7 1988 Mi
Page 134 and 135:
\ ANN AROGR. MI NEWS H 0 V-23-88 Co
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JVlemoranaur chief JusncT Dorothy c
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I I, I I I r- -.. (b) A judge may t
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7. Conferences. There shall be no a
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Accordingly, the enclosed bill woul
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DICIAL PROCEED?NGS AUDIO-VISUAL COV
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1. Definitions. For purposes of thi
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coverage in the time and manner des
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would have an undesirable impact qu
Page 152 and 153:
. ’ . I- proceedings. The chief a
Page 154 and 155:
I I I I I I I I -. I I I I I I I I
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1989-03-24 Comments of Star Tribune.pdf - Minnesota Judicial Branch

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