Cameras may be coming to a courtroom near you

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Updated: March 1, 2012 8:09AM

The Illinois Supreme Court has cleared the way for cameras in some courtrooms, but it’s not clear whether DuPage, Will, Kane and Kendall courts will be on TV anytime soon.

The state’s highest court made its historic announcement Tuesday, handing news broadcasters a major victory in a 29-year battle to broadcast what goes on inside the courthouse.

“This is another step to bring more transparency and more accountability to the Illinois court system,” said Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride.

The matter has been a high priority for Kilbride, who pushed the issue during his stint heading the seven-member court. Until now, Illinois has been among 14 states that did not allow for routine use of news cameras in courtrooms.

Currently, criminal and civil county courtrooms are open to the public, including reporters, but no video cameras, still cameras or recording devices are allowed in. (Juvenile court is not open to the public, but reporters are allowed in.) Since 1983, both video and still cameras have been allowed during arguments before the state’s appellate courts and the Supreme Court.

Under the new system, the state’s 23 judicial circuits could petition the Supreme Court to allow cameras in. Once a circuit is approved, individual trial judges would get the final call on cameras.

DuPage County Chief Judge John Elsner said he will consult with the other 14 judges in the 18th Circuit about the new rules.

“No decision will be made until all of the judges have been consulted,” Elsner said in a statement.

DuPage County civil courtrooms are wired for sound, but criminal courtrooms are not, Elsner said.

Will County — home to high-profile murder suspects such as Drew Peterson and Christopher Vaughn — will consider whether to opt in to the Supreme Court’s pilot program. But even if it does, Chief Judge Gerald Kinney said, it could take several months to draft formal protocols.

Bob Spence, the chief judge for the 16th Circuit, declined comment on the change. The 16th Circuit includes Kane, Kendall and DeKalb counties.

The only statement from Spence’s office said he “is consulting with the other judges of the 16th Judicial Circuit to determine how to proceed.”

There is no timeline for when Spence might make a decision, or how the decision might be implemented.

Cook County Chief Judge Tim Evans said Cook County courts will participate.

According to Kilbride’s statement, under the new rules any objections to filming during the testimony of sex abuse victims, police informants, undercover agents and relocated witnesses will be granted.

Cameras will be barred during juvenile, divorce, adoption, child custody, evidence suppression and trade secret cases.

Witnesses in other cases can request not to be photographed, but the request will not automatically have to be granted. Coverage of jury selection is not allowed.

Members of the media will have to apply for courtroom credentials two weeks before the court date, and they will be encouraged to share images and video.

The news media are not allowed to use cameras or recorders in federal courts, which meant that Illinoisans could not see the trials of two former governors.

In December, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin introduced legislation to require televising U.S. Supreme Court proceedings.

Chicago Sun-Times
reporters Dave McKinney
and Lisa Donovan
contributed to this story.