County judges mull cameras in courtroom order

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Judge Victoria Rossetti

Updated: March 25, 2012 3:01PM

Judges of the 19th Judicial Circuit are answering “maybe” to the Illinois State Supreme Court’s invitation to join a pilot project allowing news cameras inside courtrooms in Lake and McHenry counties.

Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride filed an order Tuesday authorizing the media to send cameras into the courtroom in an experimental program. Under the order, the state’s 22 circuit courts are invited to apply for approval from the Illinois Supreme Court immediately.

“This is another step to bring more transparency and more accountability to the Illinois court system,” Kilbride said in a statement. “(This experiment) is new to Illinois, but has been standard practice in many other states.”

Lake County Chief Judge Victoria Rossetti said the Supreme Court order will have to be reviewed by the 12 other circuit judges before a decision will be reached.

“It’s not something we’re going to have a decision on right away. We will have to review and discuss the pros and cons,” Rossetti said.

She said the issue will be brought up at the next bimonthly circuit judge meeting. Rossetti also said she would send a copy of the order to all the circuit judges for their consideration.

She pointed out that it is up to each circuit court to decide if they want to participate in the state’s program.

The Policy for Extended Media Coverage in the Circuit Courts of Illinois is a pilot program allowing cameras and electronic news recording devices in trial courtrooms for the first time.

Until Tuesday, Illinois was one of 14 states where cameras in trial courtrooms were either banned or allowed on such a restrictive basis that they were rarely used, according to a spokesman for the high court. Wisconsin has allowed cameras in the courtroom for more than a decade.

Under the new Illinois policy, the trial judge is given the discretion to decide whether or not to allow cameras/recording devices into his or her courtroom. The policy also states that media must request coverage at least 14 days in advance of court proceedings.

Furthermore, the policy allows for a maximum of two video cameras and two still photographers inside the same courtroom at once.

No “extended media coverage” will be allowed inside a courtroom during sexual abuse cases of the victim’s testimony unless the victim consents to the coverage. Coverage of juvenile, divorce, adoption, child custody and evidence suppression and trade secret cases is also prohibited.