It's Time to Televise the Courts

Queen's Speech: - Crime and Courts Bill

Plans to televise the Courts

Measures just outlined in the Queen's Speech include a Crime and Courts Bill, which will include  plans to permit limited televising of the Courts in England & Wales.

Judicial Cat believes this is a long overdue reform. There is no reason whatsoever why televising the Judge's summing up in a criminal trial cannot be permitted. Sentencing should also be televised. Going one stage further, televising of all appeals in the Court of Appeal (Civil and Criminal Divisions) should be permitted. Judicial Review proceedings in the Administrative Court, which deal with important matters of public law, would also be ideal for showing the pubic the justice system in action. The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom already permits the cameras to record proceedings. 

The problem comes with the televising of criminal trials. Judicial Cat would not support any attempt to record or show witnesses giving evidence. If nothing else there runs the risk of the trial process itself becoming a form of reality television for entertainment purposes. Witnesses would be reluctant to give evidence if they knew they would be exposed on television and subject to all the stress that would inevitably involve. 

Justice must be seen to be done. The public have a right to see proceedings televised with safeguards for witnesses and other vulnerable participants.