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

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Table 5
To what extent did knowing that the proceeding may be televised
or on radio, in newspapers or photographed, affect your desire to
participate in the trial?
Not at all
Slightly
Moderately
Very
Extremely
1.
Total
81%
0
3”:
1oi
100%
Table 6
Comments by Witnesses
I have made several hundred courtroom appearances as an
official witness. While I do not personally find the
presence of the media distracting, I feel that it could be
very distracting and detrimental to the witness who appears
for the first time. Such a person is already in unfamiliar
surroundings, participating in a procedure he does not
completely understand. The one-time witness tends to be
nervous and apprehensive. Nothing is done to help him in
this respect. The presence of bright lights and cameras can
only be distracting and disturbing.
2. I strongly object to any witness being subjected to photos,
T.V.,
this
etc. in
particular
any criminal
hearing
case. Considering
and crime, it made
the nature of
me very angry
when I learned it was to be televised. Especial ly after
identifying “Gus”,
who apparently has been free to roam the
streets, not to mention the fact that teenagers in my car
were asked by the defense to be named, I feel that the
judicial system will lose if these methods were employed, as
many people will neglect their responsibilities as citizens
in favor of being silent and therefore, safe from exposure.
I might add that even though I am not pleased at being
televised, had I known from the, beginning, I still would
have gone forward as a voluntary witness.
3. At one point in my testimony, I had to take a drink of
water . While I drank, I wondered if the camera was still on
me.
4. It is my opinion that since the trial is open to the public
anyway, I see no reason to restrict it to only the small
handful of people who can jam into the courtroom itself.
Instead, I feel that the people of Clark County and this
county deserve to see how the judicial system works for both
the plaintiff and the defense.
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