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

at the forefront of the "cameras in the courts" issue.
In authorizing a rigorous evaluation of the experiment,
the findings of which are summarized below, California
has contributed,to the' acquisition of greater knowledge
about the ramifications and consequences of permitting
extended media in‘the courtroom.
2. Summary of Case Specific Data Analysis
Participant interview and evaluator observation data
contributed
conclusions
greatly.to .
about both
the formulation
major research
of findings
questions.
and
Sec-
tion IV contains 28 tables summarizing the responses
of interviewees and results of observational data
analysis. The following series of statements further
distill the findings and conclusions in that portion
of the report.
l Generally speaking, the response patterns of
attorneys are more negatively disposed towards
EMC than other participant types. Among attorneys,
defense attorneys clearly are the most negative
toward EMC. Judges' and witnesses'rcsponse
patterns are generally more positive towards EMC
than other participant types. Jurors' response
patterns are more positive towards EMC than
attorneys and more negative towards EMC than
judges or witnesses.
l The presence of EMC equipment and operators generally
was not distracting to proceeding participants.
Only 10% of participants interviewed said
that EMC was either somewhat, . definitely, or
extremely distracting.
s Over 80% of interviewed judges and attorneys per-
ceived no impairment to "dignity and decorum"
because of EMC. About 10% of respondents detected
'-slight 'impairment and 10% detected more than slight
impairment due to EMC.
-222-