cameras

14 Aug, 2023

Allow cameras in federal court so people can see powerful judicial branch in action

By |2023-08-14T09:36:17-05:00August 14, 2023|Categories: Open Courts|Tags: , , |0 Comments

It's time to allow cameras in federal courts, arguably the most powerful branch of government. Media reports about what happens in federal courts are incomplete and merely an interpretation of by reporters. Allowing TV cameras in courts would allow the public to directly see how judicial branch decisions are made.

1 Jul, 2021

Judge to consider if ban on livestreaming county commission meetings violates First Amendment

By |2021-07-01T14:53:34-05:00July 1, 2021|Categories: Open Meetings|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

A federal district judge is scheduled to hold a bench trial in Nashville late this summer to decide if a ban on livestreaming meetings of the Montgomery County Commission violates the First Amendment. His decision could turn on whether the ban is narrowly tailored enough to address the government’s concern about security of commission chambers.

13 Aug, 2019

Montgomery County Commission bans citizens from livestreaming meetings

By |2019-08-14T08:54:31-05:00August 13, 2019|Categories: Open Meetings|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

The Montgomery County Commission voted this week to prohibit live broadcasts, or livestreaming, from within the commission chambers during meetings despite advice that such a prohibition could be unconstitutional. The purpose of the amended rules, which also included other new restrictions, stated they were “to preserve the function, dignity and order of the proceedings.” But the county sheriff also told commissioners during the meeting that allowing live broadcasts created a security concern. The sheriff said he could not discuss details about the security problem caused by live broadcasts because that in itself would cause a security issue. County provides video on YouTube Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight argued that just [...]

24 Jun, 2019

Can a county commission require people recording meetings to stay in the back of the room?

By |2019-06-25T08:57:57-05:00June 24, 2019|Categories: Open Meetings|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

A recent policy adopted by the Hamblen County Commission stretches and may exceed the boundaries of a governing body’s authority in Tennessee to limit the ability of citizens to make video recordings of their meetings. In May, the Hamblen County Commission voted to adopt a policy requiring that anyone using “cameras, video equipment, and other recording devices” be restricted to the rear of the meeting room. “This will ensure that any recording devices and their operators will not interfere with the conduct of the meeting or hamper the ability of the audience to observe and participate in the meeting,” the change read. The policy was aimed at Linda Noe, a [...]

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