WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Senator Amy Klobuchar today reintroduced bipartisan legislation to expand the public’s window into federal court processes and procedures by allowing cameras in federal courtrooms.  The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act allows judges to permit media coverage of trial and appellate cases while ensuring appropriate due process safeguards and privacy protections for witnesses and jurors remain intact.
 
“Federal courtrooms represent a place to find justice and to resolve disputes fairly. They also represent the birthplace of decisions that can impact the lives of Americans for generations.  Yet many Americans may never have a chance to step foot in a courtroom and witness the judicial process in person.  Allowing cameras in the courts creates a window into our judicial process for those Americans who may never climb the courtroom steps.  In much the same way that C-SPAN fostered a greater understanding of the legislative process and improved transparency in Congress, allowing cameras in federal courtrooms would contribute to a better understanding of, and appreciation for, the American judicial system,” Grassley said.
 
“The public has a right to see how courts function and reach their decisions. Democracy must be open. Allowing television cameras inside the courtroom would boost public confidence in government and promote a well-informed and well-functioning democracy,” Klobuchar.
 
The Sunshine in the Courtroom Act grants the presiding judge in all federal courts, including the Supreme Court, the discretion to allow cameras in the courtroom while protecting the identities of witnesses and jurors when necessary or upon request. It also prohibits media coverage of private conversations between clients and counsel, between opposing attorneys, and between counsel and the presiding judge. The bill contains a three-year sunset provision, requiring Congress to evaluate how media access is impacting the judiciary.
 
All 50 states currently allow some form of audio/video coverage of court proceedings under a variety of rules and conditions, however federal court rules vary by district. Many federal courts, including the Supreme Court, prohibit the use of live media coverage.  Public scrutiny of federal court proceedings will produce greater accountability and transparency of the judiciary system.
 
Grassley and Klobuchar’s bill is cosponsored by senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.).
 
Text of the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act is available HERE.
 
Grassley is also the lead cosponsor of separate legislation requiring television camera access in U.S. Supreme Court oral argument proceedings. The bills coincide with Sunshine Week, a time dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of transparency in government.
 
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