Title: In Re Petition of Arkansas Bar Asso.
Citation: 609 S.W.2d 28
Docket Number: 79-307
State: Arkansas
Issuer: Arkansas Supreme Court
Date: December 8, 1980

609 S.W.2d 28 (1980) Re Petition of ARKANSAS BAR ASSOCIATION for Modification of Code of Judicial Conduct relating to Broadcasting and Photographing Court Proceedings. No. 79-307. Supreme Court of Arkansas. December 8, 1980. *29 Arkansas Bar Ass'n by Dennis L. Shackleford and Thomas M. Carpenter, El Dorado and Owens, McHaney &amp; Calhoun, by James M. McHaney, Jr., Little Rock, for appellant. PER CURIAM. The Arkansas Bar Association has petitioned for a modification of Canon 3(A)(7) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. That Canon generally prohibits the broadcasting and photographing of trial proceedings. The time has arrived, in our judgment, where it may be possible for a trial to be photographed or broadcast without disruption and without prejudice to the parties, witnesses, or the jurors. More than half the states have adopted one plan or another whereby this may be accomplished. The best practice seems to be the approval of a trial period during which trial judges may, under circumstances deemed appropriate and pursuant to rules we have adopted, permit broadcasting and photographing. We do not perceive this matter to be a First Amendment issue. The right of the public to attend trials in Arkansas has been one consistently protected by this court. In fact, trials in Arkansas are probably more public than in any other state. This principle was first emphasized in Commercial Printing Co. v. Lee, 262 Ark. 87, 553 S.W.2d 270 (1977), where we said: Later in Shiras v. Britt, 267 Ark. ___, 589 S.W.2d 18 (Opinion delivered Nov. 13, 1979), we emphasized that the law in Arkansas provides that "The sittings of every court shall be public, and every person may freely attend the same." Ark.Stat. Ann. § 22-109 (Repl.1962). There is no doubt that it is in the public interest for some trials to be available to the public either through photography or broadcasting. On the other hand, there are some trials that should not be broadcast or photographed. Cases of adoptions, guardianships and domestic relations fall in the latter category. Arkansas law already protects these proceedings to a degree. Ark.Stat.Ann. § 22-404.1. That does not necessarily mean that these trials are closed. They are open to the extent they have always been open. However, these trials involve subjects that normally would be of no concern to the public and the broadcasting of which might result in harm to innocent people. Our primary concern in such cases is for the litigants, who are quite often before the court contrary to their wishes. The parties, their relatives and friends are present because the law requires it. Children who are not even present may be affected by these proceedings and could be harmed or hurt by the publicity. The child custody case is an example of such a case. The workings of the courts should be known to the public and it is our judgment that the media have reached the stage of electronic sophistication that they can, in most cases, photograph and record trial proceedings without disruption and without prejudicing the rights of the parties. Yet there rests in the judiciary a role that is just as important as that of conducting trials in public and that is that decorum must be maintained in the courtroom. Furthermore, the courtroom must be a place where individuals can come for the solution of their problems in an atmosphere removed from the clamor of public passion and prejudice. The courtrooms of this land represent a place of tradition, dignity and objectivity. The preservation of such a forum is important if we are to maintain the principle that this is a country of rule by law. That is the reason we leave to the trial judge the decision of whether it would be fitting and proper to permit photographing and recording of trial proceedings. While the parties and witnesses have to give their prior consent and while certain rules have *30 to be followed before broadcasting and photography should be permitted, the final decision must rest with the trial judge. It is on that office that the law places a duty and responsibility to see that the parties receive the full attention of the law, and that office must see that the law considers the case before it as the most important thing at that time. In other words, the courts are not in the entertainment business and obviously trials should be conducted with that in mind. This is an experiment which we hope will work. However, both the judiciary and media must want it to work and that will require a degree of tolerance and flexibility by both parties. We have modified the Arkansas Bar Association's request to the extent that it will apply to all courts, municipal, trial or appellate, but it will not apply to juvenile court for obvious reasons. While the canon and the rules speak in terms of the judge or a trial, the application of the canon and the rules may be to the courts we have enumerated. For a period of one year, beginning January 1, 1981, Canon 3(A)(7) will be amended to permit broadcasting and photographing of trials. A committee of this court is formed and charged with the responsibility of monitoring this subject for this period of time. That committee will consist of Richard Mays as Chairman; Randall Williams, Circuit Judge; John Lineberger, Chancellor; Dennis Shackleford, attorney; and, Frederick K. Darragh, a layman. Canon 3: A JUDGE SHOULD PERFORM THE DUTIES OF HIS OFFICE IMPARTIALLY AND DILIGENTLY. The judicial duties of a judge take precedence over all his other activities. His judicial duties include all the duties of his office prescribed by law. In the performance of these duties, the following standards apply: A. ADJUDICATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES (7) A judge may authorize broadcasting, recording, or photographing in the courtroom and areas immediately adjacent thereto during sessions of court, recesses between sessions, and on other occasions, provided that: Consent is hereby given to broadcast, electronically record or photograph my participation in the proceedings of the above-styled case, pursuant to the rules for media coverage of trials approved by the Arkansas Supreme Court, and the plan for coverage of this trial approved by the trial judge. I understand that once this consent is entered it cannot be revoked without a showing of just cause.