court coverage Archives - Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

14 Aug, 2015

New Sumner County Court rules; Today is deadline for Rule 30 comments

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T07:12:14-05:00August 14, 2015|Categories: Open Courts|Tags: court coverage, Rule 30|0 Comments

Monday, Aug. 17 UPDATE - Local journalist Sonya Thompson, editor of the Portland Leader, reached out to the Sumner County courts last week to clarify whether media could bring smart phones or tablets into the courtroom, if used quietly with no sound. Judge Dee Gay confirmed today for her that media can continue to use smart phones (as long as they don't go off in the courtroom), as well as devices that can take photo or audio as long as journalists let the court know in advance as outlined in Rule 30. He said advance notice is needed so he can alert security personnel so that they know the journalist will be [...]

Broadcasters, others comment on Rule 30 proposal

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T07:12:56-05:00August 11, 2015|Categories: Open Courts|Tags: court coverage, courtroom access, courts, Jack McElroy, Rule 30, Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, Tennessee Bar Association|0 Comments

Deborah Tate, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, and Michele Wojciechowski, spokesperson for the AOC, address the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in April about proposed changes to Rule 30, which governs media coverage in courtrooms. Moderated by WPLN's Blake Farmer, chapter president. Tennessee broadcasters and others have filed comments with the Tennessee Supreme Court on its proposed changes to Rule 30, which governs media coverage in courtrooms. The deadline to file comments is this Friday. The court so far has posted on its website 11 comments on the Rule 30 proposal submitted from organizations and individuals, including: Tennessee Association of Broadcasters WMC Action 5 [...]

TBA urges change in proposed rules for media coverage in courtrooms

By Deborah Fisher|2015-08-18T07:16:32-05:00July 24, 2015|Categories: Open Courts|Tags: court coverage, courtroom access, John Williams, Lucian Pera, Rule 30, Tennessee Supreme Court|1 Comment

The Tennessee Bar Association applauded the Tennessee Supreme Court's initiative to update its rules on media coverage in courtrooms in comments filed Thursday, but suggested changes to the court's proposal regarding usage of electronic devices like laptops and smartphones. At issue are the court's proposed changes to Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 30, enacted in 1996, that govern the use of cameras in the courtroom by media. In general, the rule outlines guidelines designed to avoid disruption or distraction during courtroom proceedings while upholding the openness of Tennessee courts and providing media a process to request use of camera equipment in advance. In March, the Tennessee Supreme Court published proposed changes in [...]