Ninth Circuit Approves Limited TV Coverage of Federal Trials

The 9th Circuit has approved limited television coverage of some federal trials within the circuit. Criminal trials and jury trials will not be covered and individual judges will have to approve cameras in other other trials. Judge Vaughn Walker, who is presiding over the Prop 8 case in California starring David Boies and Ted Olson, has already said he might allows TV cameras in for the trial. The plaintiffs, represented by Boies and Olson, have said they don’t mind cameras being present but the defense claims that the cameras represent a possible threat to trial participants. Under the new guidelines, however, the judge does not need consent from both sides before allowing cameras.