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

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The first group is a vocal minority of persons, particularly judges and attorneys, who were skeptical about the media’s ability Or inclination to Cover the courts fairly and accurately. These individuals point to the commercial aspect of the media andassert that sensationalism and a desire to "sell soap" dominates the coverage. In the recent camera coverage of oral arguments at the Supreme Court (an historic first) one Justice expressed disappointment that the Court had "bowed to the persistence of an entertainment medium.*' * The second group is a substantial number of individuals who applauded the introduction of electronic and photographic . media in the courtroom as contributing to public revelation on how the system works --its failings and its strengths. These persons viewed the media more as an essential component in the workings of democracy than as a commercial industry. The largest group of interviewees offering an opinion on this issue had a totally different attitude. They recognized that the time constraints for a news story are such that only small portions of the courtroom proceeding can be used. Therefore, say these persons, little-opportunity exists either to educate or bias the public. Generally, these individuals felt that on balance the TV news reporters "did a good job" in covering the story accurately and fairly. What stands out to many of these persons (and to the evaluators is how little in-court material actually is used in the story. Much of the in-court footage that is used is."dubbed over" by a reporter's summary of events, relegating the camera coverage to visual background. Sound and visual images combined constitute a small portion of the story and the story is at best gnly a few minutes long. 37 R 37 As documented in Section III, the overwhelming number of E?lC I applications are for news stories. Very few "gavel to gavel" broadcasts of trials occurred. 1 I -
The critics Of "cameras in the courts" point to this very fact, the brevity of television news reports, as an argument against allowing cameras coverage in judicial proceedings. Some even suggest that the media should be forced to show "all of it or none at all". Public education in light of this highly selective editing cannot possibly take place, say these critics. This evaluation was not required to offer an opinion on the quality of television news coverage of judicial proceedings. Suffice it to say that highly selective editing does occur and that this necessary practice is one of the most con- troversial issues.associated with cameras in the courts. Little scientific inquiry has been done to contribute knowledge to the debate. This issue and other long range effects on society at large represent the main frontier of "cameras in the courts" research. 3. Inexperienced Jurors Prior to their service in an EMC event, some jurors evidence concern about their own abilities to remain free of EMC influence. These prospective jurors believe that their own functioning and that of the judicial system in general may be somewhat impaired with the presence of EMC. Experience with EMC changes this perception. If EMC becomes a permanent fixture in the courts, the California judiciary may want to con- sider hbw jurors who are assigned to EMC trials could come to enter the experience with their confidence high, rather than low. Jurors should be assured that their ability, role and functioning, that of other trial participants and of the system itself will not be diminished by the presence of EMC. Methods exist today to orient and instruct jury pools in the phenomena and issues associated with EMC. Video tape programs could be developed and shown to prospective jurors. These tapes would present factual information relevant to the role ~4 -242-
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Patricia Hirl Longstaff Associate G
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In Re Modification of Canon 3A(7) o
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In Michigan, as in the overwhelming
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supervisory responsibility. (See pa
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The report also emphasizes the pivo
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-v 32. CYJ 33.45 8.5% . 3.2% 2.85 2
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I 1 I I a I 8 a a I 1 a 8 I a a I a
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d a. Artorsey . 93 .39 . 3s .a9
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--On most such occasions, the news
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like judjclal decisions, jury verdi
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of this pxpcbrience, I nm lOOX in f
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APPENDIX SURVET SUMARY TABLE OF CA?
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Result D: The presence of the elect
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Table 3 To what extend did the pres
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Not at All Slightly Moderately Very
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1. Too much pretrial publicity. Tab
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Table 12 To what extent did the pre
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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
Page 74 and 75: ‘an 306 Townsend Street Lansing,
Page 76 and 77: 1. Still Camera Shutter Noise Obser
Page 78 and 79: jurors are more negative towards EM
Page 80 and 81: ._.,. proceeding and the number of
Page 82 and 83: permanent basis, it is the opinion
Page 84 and 85: Media coverage of judicial proceedi
Page 86 and 87: . tunity to negotiate with the medi
Page 90 and 91: function of jurors and demonstrate
Page 92 and 93: The judicial system plays a Special
Page 94 and 95: Minnesota State Bar Association; th
Page 96 and 97: Nancy Reid, reporter, KDLH-TV, Dulu
Page 98 and 99: Commission Rule 3.03 provides that
Page 100 and 101: e effective. 5. Court rules or stan
Page 102 and 103: for reports of important news event
Page 104 and 105: the difficulty in impaneling a jury
Page 106 and 107: witness was very firm in asserting
Page 108 and 109: conducted for the purpose of explor
Page 110 and 111: maintain constraints on the media r
Page 112 and 113: 12. The Petitioners have failed to
Page 114 and 115: and that there be no modification o
Page 116 and 117: inding 010 a verdict and 'he passag
Page 118 and 119: The charge to the jury was somewhat
Page 120 and 121: Chapter 7 CAMERAS IN COURT I. INTRO
Page 122 and 123: 19% REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE
Page 124 and 125: t i I I i I , ’ _ .b I 1985 REPOR
Page 126 and 127: I- _. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
Page 128 and 129: Order Entcrrd: January 13, -1989 87
Page 130 and 131: (d) Media agency representatives sh
Page 132 and 133: 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
Page 136 and 137: 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
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. ’ . I- proceedings. The chief a
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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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