Pennsylvania Supreme Court To Begin Showing Sessions on Live TV
HARRISBURG (CBS) - The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has decided to allow cameras in the courtroom, and the first televised session will be next month.
Pennsylvania Cable Network will carry gavel-to-gavel coverage beginning on September 13th.
PCN president and CEO Brian Lockman says Chief Justice Ron Castille (center of photo) will hold that first session here in Philadelphia.
"Because he sees this as a historic session, televised for the first time, he's holding the first session at Independence Hall," Lockman tells KYW Newsradio.
As for PCN's coverage, Lockman says, what you see is what you'll get.
"We took the C-Span approach to covering things, where we're just the neutral observer. We don't have commentators, we don't edit. We just put the cameras in the room where a public event takes place and let people see it. So we'll be doing the same with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. You'll see on TV just what you would see if you went to the public sessions," Lockman says.
There will be some limitations on coverage. For instance, you won't be able to hear what the justices say when they're conferring with one another. In addition, sealed proceedings and oral arguments cannot be broadcast live.
Reported by Paul Kurtz, KYW Newsradio 1060
