L.C. 10.18 - Cameras in the Courtroom Act

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Cameras in The Courtroom Act
To permit the televising of Court proceedings.

Be it enacted by the Lincoln Council:

1. State, County, Local, Special, and any other NPC courts within Lincoln shall permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless any of the sitting justices or judges object to such television coverage, or allowing such coverage in a particular case would constitute a violation of the due process rights of 1 or more of the parties before the Court.

2. 1. shall also apply to the Lincoln Regional Court should it ever conduct proceedings outside of the Atlas Forum, with the exception that a public video file (or audio file if no video was used) may substitute for actual television coverage.

Sponsor: Speaker Dwarven Dragon
Occupying: Government Slot 5 of 12

[KaiserDave]

It's an interesting debate for sure, I'm just on the other side of the Speaker

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

This bill will improve the access and visibility of court proceedings by allowing full television coverage. Justice should not be hidden behind closed doors, but out in the open, so that all can know that such proceedings are fair.

The bill also grants flexibility if the coverage is causing a due process violation and for the Lincoln Regional Court.

I hope the whole council can agree on this simple bill.

[S019]

This seems fairly reasonable

[S019]

I'm moving for a final vote, this is fairly simple and no one has bothered to debate, so I don't think there are any issues

[KaiserDave]

I won't be signing this.

[S019]

Objecting to my motion and asking for a cloture vote

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The question is on the motion for a final vote.

Aye

[S019]

AYE

[AGA]

Aye

[Brother Jonathan]

Nay

I suspect the wider Council is for this, but I do not think that cameras belong in our Courtrooms. I cannot think of a single time where our justice system has been improved by such things, and there seem to be several examples of the great risks that can come from putting trials in the public spotlight like this. I suppose I am not opposed in every case to cameras in the Courtroom, but we should flip the burden, so to speak, from the one that would be established by this legislation (where it is assumed cameras and television coverage will be allowed) to one where Judges have to sign off on allowing cameras in. Further, the narrow exemptions provided in the legislation (for potential due process violations alone) seem to constrain the Courts too much. It is primarily for these reasons that I will not support the bill when it comes up to a final vote.

[KaiserDave]

Nay

I suspect the wider Council is for this, but I do not think that cameras belong in our Courtrooms. I cannot think of a single time where our justice system has been improved by such things, and there seem to be several examples of the great risks that can come from putting trials in the public spotlight like this. I suppose I am not opposed in every case to cameras in the Courtroom, but we should flip the burden, so to speak, from the one that would be established by this legislation (where it is assumed cameras and television coverage will be allowed) to one where Judges have to sign off on allowing cameras in. Further, the narrow exemptions provided in the legislation (for potential due process violations alone) seem to constrain the Courts too much. It is primarily for these reasons that I will not support the bill when it comes up to a final vote.

I agree completely

[AGA]

Councilor Brother Jonathan has made me rethink the issue with some good arguments. I would prefer this bill to be amended to give judges more power to prohibit filming. Therefore, I change my vote to nay.

[Secretary of State Liberal Hack]

AYE,Let sunlight into our courrrooms and enable the public to see the proccese of justice.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The Ayes are 3, the Nays are 2. The bill having been on the floor for less than 240 hours, and the two thirds threshold of those voting not having been achieved, the motion is not agreed to.

Debate continues

[S019]

Cameras in The Courtroom Act

To permit the televising of Court proceedings.

Be it enacted by the Lincoln Council:

1. State, County, Local, Special, and any other NPC courts within Lincoln shall permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless the Court decides, by a three-fifths vote of all any of the sitting justices or judges object to such television coverage, or that allowing such coverage in a particular case would constitute a violation of the due process rights of 1 or more of the parties before the Court.

2. 1. shall also apply to the Lincoln Regional Court should it ever conduct proceedings outside of the Atlas Forum, with the exception that a public video file (or audio file if no video was used) may substitute for actual television coverage.

I think this amendment should meet the concerns voiced.

[Brother Jonathan]

If the amendment is adopted, I would be willing to support the bill. I still fear the potential influence of television on our courts, but I recognize the broader interest in this bill among the Councilors and am happy to work with them to pass what seems to be a sensible compromise,

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

To be clear the amendment is friendly

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Amendment adopted.


Without objection, the following grammar fix is adopted:

Cameras in The Courtroom Act

To permit the televising of Court proceedings.

Be it enacted by the Lincoln Council:

1. State, County, Local, Special, and any other NPC courts within Lincoln shall permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court unless any of the sitting justices or judges object to such television coverage, or that allowing such coverage in a particular case would constitute a violation of the due process rights of 1 or more of the parties before the Court.

2. 1. shall also apply to the Lincoln Regional Court should it ever conduct proceedings outside of the Atlas Forum, with the exception that a public video file (or audio file if no video was used) may substitute for actual television coverage.

Moving for a final vote.

[S019]

No objections, though I'm pretty sure that amendment needs a 24 hr period before a motion for a vote.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

No objections, though I'm pretty sure that amendment needs a 24 hr period before a motion for a vote.

The "without objection" indicates a rules suspension. One can object to the waiving of the 24 hr period or the amendment itself, but if no objection is raised, we proceed without bothering with such formalities.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A final vote is beginning.

AYE

[S019]

AYE

[AGA]

Aye

[Brother Jonathan]

Aye