Supreme Court approves cameras for courts in six Eastern Illinois counties

Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Judge Dan L. Flannell of the Sixth Judicial Circuit announced on Friday that news cameras will be allowed in trial courts in six additional Illinois counties.

The Sixth Judicial Circuit is comprised of Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt counties in east central Illinois. With today's announcement, total participation in the pilot project rises to 35 counties within 13 judicial Circuits.

“Cameras and microphones in the courtroom now reach citizens in more than one half of the judicial circuits and one third of the counties in Illinois," Chief Justice Kilbride said. "Chief Judge Flannell's application and approval by the Supreme Court to allow cameras in the trial courtrooms will bring more geographical diversity to the pilot project.

“The Sixth Circuit provides a host of smaller newspaper and radio stations with the opportunity to provide their readers and listeners with picture and audio coverage as well as the local network affiliates and public radio stations that also cover our state's capitol."

Approval of the Sixth Circuit expands the pilot project in the Fourth Judicial District where cameras were approved in McLean County in the 11th Circuit in December 2012.

"I am pleased to see the Sixth Circuit participate in the pilot project," said Justice Rita B. Garman, who will become the next Chief Justice and whose Fourth Judicial District includes the Circuit. "Judge Flannell and the members of the Extended Media Committee have worked diligently in researching and discussing how the judges in the Circuit will balance the judge's primary role in the administration of justice with the media's role to inform the public."

Chief Judge Flannell thanked the Supreme Court for its approval and said that the judges in the Sixth Circuit are committed to the success of the program.

"On behalf of the judges of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, I wish to extend our appreciation to the Supreme Court for its prompt consideration and approval of our application for inclusion within the extended media coverage pilot program," Chief Judge Flannell said. "The members of the Extended Media Committee, chaired by Champaign County Presiding Judge Thomas J. Difanis, did an admirable job in compiling information from other jurisdictions already in the pilot program, which in turn allowed the Circuit Judges to make a prompt and informed decision to seek approval from the Supreme Court.

"We look forward to joining other Circuits around the state in expanding the public's opportunity to more easily access and understand the operations of the judicial branch of our state's government."

While serving as chair of the media committee, Presiding Judge Difanis said that judges were given opportunities to express their opinions regarding the pilot project and its potential effect in the six-county Circuit.

"The vote was quite overwhelming to approve application for the extended media coverage which says a lot for the judges in this Circuit," Presiding Judge Difanis said. "There has been very little concern about implementation and we are looking forward to see how this works out."

The Supreme Court Order approving the Sixth Circuit requires that a judge presiding over a proceeding in which cameras or audio are allowed must file a report with the chief judge of the circuit, the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court Justice in the judicial district the Circuit is located.

In January 2012, the Supreme Court announced approval of a pilot project to allow news media cameras and audio in trial courtrooms in Illinois. Since then, 29 counties in 12 judicial circuits across Illinois have been participating in the pilot program, opening the trial courtrooms to news photogra-phers and electronic news media to cover cases.

The Supreme 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 Chief Justice Kilbride and his colleagues on the Court took another look.

Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Macon, Moultrie and Piatt counties in the Sixth Judicial Circuit join Kane County in the 16th Circuit; Lake County in the 19th Judicial Circuit; DeKalb and Kendall counties in the 23rd Judicial Circuit; Knox County in the Ninth Judicial Circuit; McLean County in the 11th Judicial Circuit; DuPage County in the 18th Judicial Circuit; Alexander, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson counties in the First Judicial Circuit; Boone and Winne-bago counties in the 17th Judicial Circuit; Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle and Stephenson counties in the 15th Judicial Circuit; Madison County in the Third Judicial Circuit; Kankakee County in the 21st Judicial Circuit; and Henry, Mercer, Rock Island and Whiteside counties in the 14th Judicial Circuit where extended media coverage was approved by the Supreme Court.

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Chris Bonjean

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