Cameras in courtrooms now an option in all Illinois counties
The Illinois Supreme Court approved revisions to its Extended Media Coverage policy.
By Jason Piscia, INBA President
News reporters in every Illinois county can now request permission to bring cameras and other recording equipment into their local courtrooms, thanks to a revised “Extended Media Coverage” policy that took effect Jan. 1.
The Illinois Supreme Court first launched its Cameras in the Courts initiative as a pilot program in 2012. Over the past decade, 62 of the state’s 102 counties opted in, allowing journalists to ask to record, photograph or livestream court proceedings — subject to approval from the presiding judge.
The newly updated policy expands that access to the remaining 40 counties (colored in orange on the map) beginning this month.
The revisions were developed by the Illinois Judicial Conference’s Public Education and Engagement Task Force, which gathered input from judges, trial court administrators, circuit clerks, attorneys, journalists, and other court personnel.
Ryan Denham, content director at WGLT (NPR) in Normal and a member of the task force, said the changes are designed to modernize the program and strengthen public confidence in the judicial system.
“This new policy contains several changes that will tangibly improve working conditions for media in courts across the state, while also helping to bolster public trust in the courts by making them more transparent,” said Denham, who also chairs the Cameras and Microphones in the Courts Committee for the Illinois News Broadcasters Association. “The changes reflect just how much technology and media practices have evolved since 2012.”
Other updates to the policy include:
- Shorter notice window: Journalists may now submit EMC requests at least seven days before a proceeding, down from the previous 14-day requirement. Judges may grant exceptions for hearings scheduled on short notice, such as initial criminal appearances.
- Required explanations for denials: If a judge denies a request for extended media coverage, they must now provide a reason.
- Clearer definition of “news media”: The policy now clarifies which organizations and professionals qualify to file EMC requests, including newspapers, periodicals, news services, radio and television outlets, community antenna television services, and individuals or companies that professionally produce news content for the public.
To streamline the process statewide, the task force also created standardized, fillable EMC request forms, now available on the Illinois Courts website.