Video Cameras Pilot Project Begins in July 2011

The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized a three-year pilot project to evaluate the effect of cameras in district court courtrooms, video recording of proceedings, and publication of those recordings by making them available through www.uscourts.gov as well as participating courts’ websites. The Eastern District of Missouri is among the fourteen courts selected to take part in this study.

An amendment to Local Rule 13.02 was adopted by the judges of the district court on June 24, 2011 and approved by the Eighth Circuit Judicial Council on July 6, 2011 to permit an exception to the Judicial Conference ban on recording. The amended rule provides:

(B) The prohibition described in paragraph A of this rule [general ban on recording and broadcasting in any courtroom] shall not apply to proceedings in civil cases assigned to district judges of this court when the presiding judge has approved recording and broadcasting of a proceeding in accordance with the digital video recording pilot program guidelines issued by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 2010 (JCUS- SEP 10, pp.3-4)

Districts participating in this pilot must follow guidelines adopted by the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Case Management. The pilot is limited to civil proceedings in which the parties have consented to recording. The full text of the Guidelines for the Cameras Pilot Project may be found at www.moed.uscourts.gov at the “Quick Links” tab. Equipment necessary for the recording process is expected to be installed in selected courtrooms in July 2011.

Please direct questions about the pilot cameras project to Clerk of Court Jim Woodward at 314-244-7890 or jim_woodward@moed.uscourts.gov