PA Supreme Court to Allow TV Coverage
Never before has the Pennsylvania Supreme Court allowed cameras to record its oral arguments. It’s a historic move, according to Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald Castille. “For the first time ever, we will be videotaping actual sessions of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.” The state’s highest court has written new rules that will give the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) the ability to rebroadcast full sessions, beginning this fall.
The Supreme Court is open to the public, but its three courtrooms seat only about 100 people. “So this will give a widespread lesson in the third branch of government in how we operate,” Chief Justice Castille said in an interview with Radio PA.
The new rules allow PCN to request to record scheduled proceedings for rebroadcast. “Sealed” cases will not be videotaped, and Castille says the court can still exercise discretion to prohibit camera coverage of sensitive subjects. Another provision in the new operating procedures clarifies that the Supreme Court shall incur no expense for the endeavor.
PCN President Brian Lockman is proud to have their cameras inside the Supreme Court. “Our network for 17-years has been covering the different levels of state government, to help people understand it better, and this really completes the loop.” Lockman says everything PCN does is “gavel-to-gavel,” but that will literally be the case with the Supreme Court broadcasts. Coverage is expected to begin on September 13th.
