Cameras in the Courts: Can We Trust the Research?

In several recent court cases, television viewers throughout the nation were able to see excerpts of actual trial testimony on network newscasts. These opportunities for camera coverage have come about as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court\u27s 1981 decision in Chandler v. Florida. In that case the Court ruled that each state was free to determine whether to permit extended media coverage, including camera coverage, in its courts, and to set appropriate guidelines for such coverage. Before adopting permanent rules for camera coverage, most states have conducted one year tests — which they have called experiments — during which time camera coverage is permitted, monitored, and evaluated. But what do these experiments tell us? What kind of research has been conducted to evaluate the impact of cameras in the courts? We contend that the research conducted so far provides inadequate evidence on which to base permanent rulemaking