Of Minnesota's system of government, nothing is more secretive or less understood than the judicial system. It remains, however, an extremely important part of our three-legged system, that of the judicial, legislative and executive branches of government.
It's time that the 21st century enters our dark courtrooms and allow that process to be as open as possible to the public - including allowing the use of cameras and recording devices in the courtrooms by news media.
The issue of cameras in the courtroom is now before the Minnesota Supreme Court, which is expected to consider revamping its access rules sometime next year. Friday, an advisory panel appointed by the state's high court heard testimony on those rules, which now bar the use of cameras by anyone in the courtroom unless three-way approval is given - by the judge, the defense attorney and the prosecuting attorney. Such strict parameters have virtually guaranteed that the state's courtrooms remain closed to methods of public dissemination.
For the most part, Minnesota's courtrooms are open to the public. But with small courtrooms and the long delays that usually accompany court proceedings, it's virtually impossible for the public to regularly monitor those proceedings in person.
Plus, as in the case of the new Beltrami County Judicial Center, just getting in the building is nearly impossible. Beltrami's new building, with guards and detectors, won't even allow a person who has a camera, a recording device, a cell phone, an electronic organizer, a laptop computer or even a pocketknife or nail clipper in the door. Not very inviting to a member of the public who just wants to see a trial in action.
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That's why the news media needs to represent the general public in bringing to them the complexity of the courts in words, pictures and video. Today's devices are not intrusive, and should not affect how trials are conducted, or serve to sensationalize the proceedings.
Of course, we realize there would still need to be some sort of regulation by the judge, such as preventing media camera from moving about the room, use of flashes or floodlights, or in recording private discussions between attorneys, clients or the judge, or in recording victims, child witnesses, undercover officers and the like.
Minnesota remains one of about 15 states that keep cameras out of court. The mystique of the judicial branch needs to be shown to the light, and allowing news media to show Minnesotans what their court system does can only create a greater understanding of the role and function of the judiciary.
THE BEMIDJI PIONEER
