QUINCY, ILL -- The Supreme Court announced Tuesday January 24th that news cameras and electronic news recordings will be allowed in Illinois trial courtrooms.
This is the first time that Illinois has allowed this.
The policy goes into effect immediately but the Circuit Courts in the state will have to apply and get approval from the Supreme Court.
Allowing cameras in the courtroom is an experimental program for Illinois.
It has been just one of 14 states that don't allow cameras during criminal trials.
Illinois has allowed cameras to be present during Supreme Court and Appellate Court hearings since 1983.
At the time of that decision, the court continued the ban during trials because of fair trial concerns.
Broadcasters have long advocated for the use of cameras and tape recorders during criminal trials, pointing to the public's right to know.
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TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKHQA