Massachusetts bloggers could gain new courtroom access

The state court system would treat bloggers as members of the news media under a proposed rule that would give them the ability to photograph trials and certain other court proceedings, just like reporters for mainstream media outlets.

The "Electronic Access to the Courts" rule, now under consideration by the Supreme Judicial Court's rules committee, would also let bloggers, other online journalists and traditional reporters use their laptops or smartphones to liveblog from inside courtrooms.

Currently, only mainstream media are allowed to photograph or video court procedings, through a rule that allows one "pool" video camera and a similar still camera (MSM outlets agree to share the video and photos). The proposed new rules would allow a third "pool" camera, set aside for use by bloggers and other non-MSM journalists. Bloggers - and news organizations - would be required to first register with the state court system's public information office for the right to take photos and to sign a declaration they understand what they cannot photograph or video - for example, juvenile procedings, jurors and sidebar discussions between judges and lawyers):

The "news media" shall include any authorized representative of a news organization that has registered with the Public Information Officer of the Supreme Judicial Court or any journalist who is so registered. Registration shall be afforded to organizations that regularly gather, prepare, photograph, record, write, edit, report or publish news or information about matters of public interest for dissemination to the public, and to journalists who regularly perform a similar function, upon certification by the organizations or journalists that they perform such a role and that they will familiarize themselves or their representatives, as the case may be, with the provisions of this rule and will comply with them.

Complete copy of the proposed rules. Comments? Send them to Christine P. Burak, Secretary, Supreme Judicial Court Rules Committee, Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, One Pemberton Square, Boston MA 02108 or to christine.burak@sjc.state.ma.us on or before Friday, January 28, 2011.

Ed. disclosure: I served on the sub-committee that helped draft the proposed rules. Obviously, I was all for letting bloggers gain the same electronic access to courtrooms as MSM reporters.