Will Donald Trump’s Trials Be Televised? Courts Can Consider An Array Of Options To Boost Access To Momentous Proceedings
09.08.2023 - 00:55
/ deadline.com
Donald Trump’s election conspiracy case may be billed as the trial of the century, but as things stand, the public won’t have any way of seeing or hearing it — save for going to the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse in Washington, D.C., waiting in line and hoping for a seat.
Federal criminal courts long have prohibited cameras or recording devices of any kind, but the momentous nature of the Trump case already has seen Capitol Hill lawmakers argue for an exception, and a coalition of major news organizations is expected to make some sort of appeal to the judicial branch.
Yet as unlikely as Depp/Heard-like live coverage of Trump’s federal case seems, given futile efforts so far to secure camera or audio of the proceedings, legal experts say that there are other options that would at least expand what is available.
Other options include:
Attorney Ted Boutrous, who was part of the legal team representing plaintiffs in the Prop 8 case, has been a big supporter of cameras in the courtroom and said that there is ample example of judges being “very good at managing the circumstances.” He also noted that modern technology has made equipment less disruptive, while there are plenty of hybrid examples that have tested and have worked.
“It’s hard to argue against it, especially if the defendant is willing to support it,” he said.
That seems to be the case. Over the weekend, Trump’s attorney John Lauro told CNN he personally wanted cameras allowed.
In an op-ed in The New York Times this week, Court TV founder Steven Brill wrote: “The last thing our country and the world needs is for this trial to become the ultimate divisive spin game, in which each side roots for its team online and on the cable news networks as if