Pennsylvania Code
Title 210 - APPELLATE PROCEDURE
Part II - INTERNAL OPERATING PROCEDURES
Chapter 63 - INTERNAL OPERATING PROCEDURES OF THE SUPREME COURT
Section 63.9 - Photographing, Recording and Broadcasting
Universal Citation: 210 PA Code ยง 63.9
Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
A. General Provisions.
1. The Supreme Court reserves the right to
restrict usage of all sound recordings and visual images taken in Supreme Court
Courtrooms. Photographing, recording and broadcasting in those areas are
permissible only in accordance with the following provisions.
2. The Executive Administrator of the Supreme
Court or his or her designee ("Executive Administrator") may permit
photographing, recording and broadcasting in any Supreme Court Courtroom in his
or her discretion. Requests to photograph, record or broadcast sound or images
for public or private use in any media, including, but not limited to, printed,
online and video form, must be submitted to the Executive Administrator at
least three business days before the proposed date of photographing, recording
or broadcasting, or within a shorter period as the Executive Administrator may
determine. Requests to photograph, record or broadcast during scheduled Supreme
Court proceedings will not be entertained.
3. Members of the general public visiting any
Supreme Court Courtroom as a permitted guest or a participant in a supervised
tour may take photographs or record sound or images for their private,
non-profit use, unless otherwise directed by the Executive Administrator. This
provision does not authorize photographing, recording or broadcasting during
scheduled Supreme Court proceedings.
4. When a Supreme Court Courtroom is being
used by an executive or legislative agency, board, commission or similar
entity, sections A. 2.-3. shall not affect that entity's policies relating to
photographing, broadcasting and recording.
B. Photographing, Recording and Broadcasting of Supreme Court Proceedings by the Pennsylvania Cable Network ("PCN").
1.
General
Provisions.
a. The recording by PCN
of a proceeding before the Supreme Court for future broadcast on PCN is
permissible only in accordance with this section.
b. A request to be present to record a
scheduled proceeding electronically for future broadcast on PCN must be made at
least three business days before the proceeding. Such requests must be
submitted to the Executive Administrator for approval by the Chief Justice. The
Supreme Court shall maintain discretion to prohibit camera coverage of any
proceeding, or any part thereof, due to the nature of the issues or the
sensitivity of the subject matter of a proceeding.
c. There shall be no coverage of a proceeding
involving any case that has been designated as "sealed."
d. There shall be no audio pickup or
broadcast of conferences between co-counsel or among the Justices.
e. The Supreme Court may limit or terminate
coverage, or direct the removal of camera coverage personnel, when necessary to
protect the rights of the parties or to assure the orderly conduct of the
proceedings.
f. The Supreme Court
shall not incur any expense for equipment, wiring or personnel necessary to
provide coverage by PCN.
g.
Introductory commentary, if any, shall be supplied by members in good standing
of the Pennsylvania Bar approved by the Supreme Court.
h. All coverage must be "gavel-to-gavel,"
including rebroadcasts, with the exceptions in 1.c.-e.
i. All copyrights to the broadcasts are the
possession of the Supreme Court and may not be used without its approval. PCN
shall provide the Supreme Court with DVD or videotape recordings of all
sessions covered by PCN, whether or not broadcast or aired.
j. Broadcasts are not permitted until a
minimum of 48 hours after recording.
2.
Equipment and Personnel.
a. Only robotic cameras will be permitted in
the courtroom. PCN personnel shall consult with the Executive Administrator to
determine the location in the courtroom for the camera equipment and
operators.
b. Equipment shall not
produce distracting sound or light. Signal lights or devices to show when the
equipment is operating shall not be visible.
c. Except as otherwise approved by the
Executive Administrator, existing courtroom sound and light systems shall be
used without modification. Audio pickup for all media purposes shall be
accomplished from existing audio systems present in the court facility, or from
a camera's built-in microphone. If no technically suitable audio system exists
in the court facility, microphones and related wiring essential for media
purposes shall be unobtrusive and shall be located in places designated in
advance by the Executive Administrator.
d. All equipment must be in place prior to
the opening of the court session and shall not be removed until after the
conclusion of the day's proceedings. Video recording equipment which is not a
component part of a camera shall be located in an area remote from the
courtroom. PCN personnel shall not enter or exit the courtroom once the
proceedings are in session except during a recess or adjournment. PCN personnel
shall wear appropriate attire in the courtroom.
e. PCN personnel shall adhere to the
direction of the Executive Administrator in matters such as security, parking,
noise avoidance and other related issues.
3.
Impermissible Use of
Material.
None of the film, videotape, video discs, still photographs or audio reproductions developed during or by virtue of coverage of a proceeding shall be admissible as evidence in the proceeding from which it arose, in any proceeding subsequent or collateral thereto, or upon any appeal of such proceedings.
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