History

CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM

In many countries, filming or recording trials is prohibited by law, in order to “preserve the peace and dignity of judicial debates.” But with growing pressure from the media, greater public interest in certain cases, and a desire to keep a living memory of court cases, more and more exceptions are being made to the courtroom ban. Does keeping cameras out of the courtroom only stir the media frenzy and spur greater interference in events that unfold outside the courtroom? Should (all) trials be filmed? How should it be done? From Nuremberg to The Hague, from the French model to American experiments with filming “ordinary” trials: how will trials be captured and presented in the coming years?