Maryland House Panel Kills Cameras In Court Measure

 

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 21, 2008) - A bill that would have repealed Maryland's ban on cameras in court during criminal sentencings was rejected by the Maryland House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

Sponsored by Maryland Delegate Michael D. Smigiel Sr. (R-District 36), the bill needed to pass committee to reach the House floor where supporters hoped it would pass and allow more public access to the courts through the media. Opponents to the measure claimed cameras in Maryland courts would "distort" judicial proceedings by only showing a part of what takes place in a trial, and would make victims hesitant to speak out in court, and would encourage "grandstanding."

The same bill failed before the Maryland committee last year, and broader versions of the bill have been defeated in previous years.

Baltimore City District Judge Nathan Braverman testified against the bill and said that news organizations will air several seconds of an emotional courtroom scene "out of context." The judge testified, "They're not showing you, they're entertaining you."

Maryland allows cameras in the court during civil trials and during appellate proceedings but not during criminal trials. Currently there are 37 states that allow some kind of camera access to courtrooms during criminal proceedings.

 

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