"The sunshine of public scrutiny is the best way to maintain confidence and promote a better understanding of the judicial system," Grassley said. "Allowing judges to broadcast trials will increase public awareness and scrutiny and will bring greater accountability to the judicial branch."
The Judiciary Committee today approved S. 554, the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act, which Grassley introduced with Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York earlier this year. The Committee also approved the contents of the bill as an amendment to a judicial pay increase bill that also passed today.
Grassley's measure would give federal trial and appellate judges the discretion to permit cameras in their courtrooms. The bill would also allow the Judicial Conference, the principal policy-making entity for the federal courts, to draft advisory guidelines that judges can refer to in making a decision pertaining to the coverage of a particular case.
Forty-eight states, including Iowa, currently permit some form of audio-video coverage in their courtrooms and at least 37 directly televise trials. Studies and surveys conducted in many of those states have confirmed that electronic media coverage of trials boosts public understanding of the court system without interfering with court proceedings.
"Iowa has allowed cameras in our state courts for more than 20 years. Allowing cameras into federal courtrooms would bring the federal judiciary in the 21st century," Grassley said.
The legislation was sponsored by Grassley and Schumer, along with Sens. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Mike DeWine, of Ohio; Larry Craig, of Idaho; Russ Feingold, of Wisconsin; George Allen, of Virginia; Wayne Allard, of Colorado; John Cornyn of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.