 Chief Judge Jeffrey W. O'Connor of the 14th Circuit applied to the
Illinois Supreme Court for approval last week, one day after Chief
Justice Kilbride announced that an experimental program was
unanimously approved by the seven justices on the court.The 14th
Circuit is comprised of Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside
counties.
"Today's order is a historic one," Kilbride said. "For the first
time in state history, citizens not physically present will be able
to see and hear proceedings in our trial courts. My colleagues and I
announced this change in policy hoping to promote greater openness
and accountability. But we must carefully balance the goal of
openness with the rights of defendants and parties to have fair
trials.
"This pilot project will allow us to test the policy we have put
in place and see if it is workable in Illinois, or if any changes
need to be made before moving toward a full statewide policy. My
colleagues and I are thankful for the 14th Circuit and Chief Judge
O'Connor's willingness to serve in this pilot project. We look
forward to their results."
In his formal request to the court for approval, O'Connor noted
that the news media in the area are already familiar with
broadcasting trial proceedings because Iowa, just across the
Mississippi River, has allowed cameras in courtrooms since 1979, and
media have aired court coverage in the Quad Cities area, which
includes Illinois communities.
"I have already met with some of our media, some of our judges
and others responsible for administering our court system, and we
are all willing to do our best to make this work while ensuring the
guarantees of a fair trial," O'Connor said. "Being 500 yards away
from the Iowa media market in Scott County, our local media is well
aware of how to broadcast trial proceedings. I believe it would be a
seamless transition and a good pilot."
O'Connor said he plans to have additional meetings with the
media, county sheriffs, prosecutors, public defenders and court
administrators to put the pilot project into effect as soon as
possible.
The order approving the 14th Circuit also requires that a judge
presiding over a proceeding in any circuit that is approved for the
pilot project file a report with the chief judge of the circuit, the
chief justice and the Supreme Court justice of the district where
the judicial circuit is located. The report must be filed within a
reasonable time after extended media coverage is completed and is to
be confidential, for the purposes of assisting the Supreme Court in
its evaluation of the experimental program and formulation of
policy.
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The chief judge of the circuit approved to participate in
extended media coverage also is required to file a monthly report
with the chief justice and the Supreme Court justice of the district
where the circuit is located.
Kilbride announced on Jan. 24 the Illinois Supreme Court's
approval of an experimental program to allow news media cameras and
audio in trial courtrooms. The court has allowed cameras to
broadcast its own oral arguments, and those of the Illinois
Appellate Court, since 1983. At that time, however, the court
specifically rejected allowing news cameras during trial
proceedings, and the issue made little headway until Kilbride and
his colleagues took another look.
The new policy approved unanimously by the court includes some of
the same provisions in the Iowa camera rules. The pilot project will
be implemented in Illinois on a circuit-by-circuit basis. To
participate, the chief judge of a judicial circuit must request
approval from the Supreme Court.
O'Connor was the first chief judge of the 23 judicial circuits in
the state to make a formal petition.
___
See court order
(PDF) on extended media coverage in the courts of the 14th Judicial
Circuit.
[Text from file received from the
Illinois Supreme Court]
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