Chief Justice Cady to Speak to U.S. Senate Subcommittee about Cameras in the Courts
Des Moines, December 5, 2011– On December 6, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady will speak to a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee about Iowa's experience with video coverage of court proceedings.
The Iowa Judicial Branch is a leader in allowing video and audio media coverage of courts. For more than 30 years, Iowa's courts have allowed audio, photographic, and video coverage of the courts. Prior to this change, and in keeping with the custom in courts around the nation, media coverage of court proceedings was limited to pen, pencil, paper, and sketch pad. In 1979, following a thorough study, the Iowa Supreme Court adopted rules carefully designed to allow audio, video, and photographic coverage of court hearings while safeguarding the rights of litigants to a fair trial. More recently, the Iowa Supreme Court began streaming video of its oral argument proceedings.
The Senate Judiciary hearing will be held in Room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building and is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. This hearing is before the Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight. It is entitled "Access to the Court: Televising the Supreme Court." Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, chair of the subcommittee, will preside. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley is a member of the subcommittee.
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