Q: What is your "Sunshine in the Courtroom Act?"
A: This bipartisan legislation would allow federal trial and appellate judges to permit cameras in the courtroom. Currently 48 states allow some form of audio-video coverage in their courtrooms and at least 37 directly televise trials. What’s good for the states is good for the federal government. Surveys confirm that electronic media coverage of trials boosts public understanding of the court system without interfering with court proceedings. We need greater public participation and understanding in our system of government not less. Iowa has allowed cameras in the state courts for more than 20 years. Allowing cameras into federal courtrooms would bring the federal judiciary into the 21st century.
Q: Aren’t you concerned cameras could create "media frenzy" and sensationalize trials?
A: I would stress that my bill gives the federal judge presiding over the case the sole discretion to allow or not allow audio or video coverage of the trial. The bill also provides for the privacy and protection of witnesses by allowing their faces and voices to be obscured. What’s more, our bill would direct the Judicial Conference, the policy-making arm for the federal courts, to draft advisory guidelines for judges to consider when making a decision pertaining to electronic media coverage. Throughout my years in public service, I have worked hard to make the government more open, more accessible and more accountable to the people. In the Senate, I’ve led efforts to end the secrecy of Senate "holds," a practice which allows an individual lawmaker to single-handedly and anonymously stop a nomination or the people’s business from moving forward. I’ve championed protections for whistle-blowers in the federal bureaucracy and corporate America based on my belief that sunshine is the best disinfectant. The same goes for the federal judiciary. Letting the masses keep tabs on federal judicial proceedings will serve to increase confidence in the courts and inspire more appreciation for the judicial system. I’m confident the courts would stand the test of public scrutiny.
