Opinion ID: 1810757
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: considerations for allowing electronic media coverage of judicial proceedings

Text: The proponents for change of Canon 3 A(7) make many claims for permitting electronic media in the courtrooms of Florida. They assert that: (i) there is no logical basis to distinguish between the print and electronic media insofar as access is concerned; (ii) the sixth amendment concept of a public trial is promoted by electronic media coverage; (iii) there is educational value in electronic media coverage; (iv) newsworthy trials will be covered by the electronic media either from within or without the courtroom and that the former is less apt to interfere with a fair trial; (v) the pilot program has demonstrated that the state of the art in television and photographic equipment is such that no disturbance of judicial proceedings results from coverage and, furthermore, that media pooling arrangements prevented any serious problems in connection with coverage; and (vi) the judiciary and the public's confidence in that institution will be enhanced by electronic media coverage. While we do not accept all of the claims made by the proponents and will not discuss them in detail, we are persuaded that on balance there is more to be gained than lost by permitting electronic media coverage of judicial proceedings subject to standards for such coverage. The prime motivating consideration prompting our conclusion is this state's commitment to open government. [59] We have heretofore articulated this philosophy in the context of the court system: Reporters are plainly free to report whatever occurs in open court through their respective media. A trial is a public event, and there is no special perquisite of the judiciary which enables it to suppress, edit or censor events which transpire in proceedings before it, and those who see and hear what transpired may report it with impunity, subject to constitutional restraints mentioned herein. State ex rel. Miami Herald Publishing v. McIntosh, 340 So.2d 904, 908-09 (Fla. 1977) (footnotes omitted). This principle, that a trial is a public event and that what transpires in an open courtroom is public property, has found expression in numerous United States Supreme Court decisions. See, e.g., Sheppard v. Maxwell, supra ; Estes v. Texas, supra ; Stroble v. California, supra ; Craig v. Harney, 331 U.S. 367, 67 S.Ct. 1249, 91 L.Ed. 1546 (1947). Electronic media coverage of all other branches and subdivisions of Florida government exists and apparently has served not only to inform the public about the operation of their government but has made the representatives of government act more responsibly. At the advent of gavel-to-gavel television coverage of the Florida Legislature, members of that body expressed many of the same fears held by the respondents before us today. That experience, however, has demonstrated that the legislative process has been enhanced rather than degraded: Television changes everything it touches. It has subtly altered the legislative process for the better. Many of our legislators had their doubts about the wisdom of gavel-to-gavel televising because they feared television would encourage grandstanding. This did not happen. Instead, television coverage had a favorable impact on the lawmaking process. No one mumbles bills through. You seldom see legislators reading newspapers and never see them eating lunch at their desks during debate any more. (e.s.) ..... Nowadays, under the eye of the television cameras, those sponsoring bills are far more careful to give the House and the viewing public an adequate explanation of what the pending measure does. In other words, debate has become far more structured. [60] The court system is no less an institution of democratic government in our society. Because of the courts' dispute resolution and decision-making role, its judgments and decrees have an equally significant effect on the day-to-day lives of the citizenry as the other branches of government. It is essential that the populace have confidence in the process, for public acceptance of judicial judgments and decisions is manifestly necessary to their observance. Florida Bar v. McCain, 361 So.2d 700, 709 (Fla. 1978) (Sundberg, J., concurring). Consequently, public understanding of the judicial system, as opposed to suspicion, is imperative. Regrettably, public knowledge and understanding of the judicial process is at a low ebb: The rulers of America, the numerous John Q. Citizens who have intention of becoming lawyers, should be taught what their courts do and why. For alas, they know too little of that subject. American journalism, on the whole, does a poor job of accurately reporting court-doings. Our lawyers have made little effort to explain to the laymen, in intelligible terms, the workings of our judicial system. The resultant public ignorance is deplorable. Our courts are an immensely important part of our government. In a democracy, no portion of government should be a mystery. But what may be called court-house government still is mysterious to most of the laity. J. Frank, Courts on Trial 1 (1949). This is particularly deplorable in Florida, where we have a system and judges in which we can take pride. Unlike other states where reform of the judicial system has sometimes lagged, Florida has developed a modern court system with procedures for merit appointment of judges and for attorney discipline. Florida courts have proved innovative in developing new concepts to speed the system and improve the administration of justice. We have no need to hide our bench and bar under a bushel. Ventilating the judicial process, we submit, will enhance the image of the Florida bench and bar and thereby elevate public confidence in the system. In view of the lack of any serious problems of disruption occurring during the term of the pilot program, and supported by the limited empirical data developed through the surveys, it is our judgment that Canon 3 A(7) should be amended to permit access to the courtrooms of this state by electronic media subject to standards adopted by this Court and subject also to the authority of the presiding judge at all times to control the conduct of proceedings before him to ensure a fair trial to the litigants. This judgment is buttressed by a practical reality; newsworthy trials will continue to be covered by the electronic media from without the courtroom if the canon is not altered. We have all been exposed to far too many examples of this out-of-court coverage to believe that it promotes the interests of a fair trial or the image of the judicial process. Proponents represent, and we accept in good faith, that this type of sensational and uncomplimentary coverage will be displaced by the sort of orderly and dignified in-court coverage demonstrated during the pilot program. In reaching our conclusion we are not unmindful of the perceived risks articulated by the opponents of change. However, there are risks in any system of free and open government. A democratic system of government is not the safest form of government, it is just the best man has devised to date, and it works best when its citizens are informed about its workings.