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Bill would put cameras in federal courts

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has introduced S-657, the \"sunshine in the courtroom\" bill.

Federal News Network Staff

March 24, 2009 5:36 pm

< a min read

By Max Cacas
FederalNewsRadio

Open government advocates have worked for years to get television cameras in federal courts.

Now, a bill introduced last week in the U.S. Senate would do just that.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has introduced S-657, the “sunshine in the courtroom” bill. The measure would allow the chief judge of the Federal trial appeals courts to permit cameras in their courtrooms.

Grassley says the measure would help “demistify” the country’s judicial system, and help maintain confidence and accountability in the courts. The measure is co-sponsored by seven other senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee, including chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt). Currently, 48 states permit audio-only coverage of court proceedings, while 37 allow direct televising of trials.

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On the Web:

RCFP – Press Release on Bill