News outlets will be able to broadcast sentencing remarks by
judges in plans being taken forward by the Department of Justice.
Justice Minister has published a summary of
responses to a public consultation on proposals to allow the
recording and broadcasting of certain court proceedings.
The document also sets out the next steps for the Department of
Justice, which will include bringing forward the legislation
required to enable the plans to be implemented.
The Department will work closely with the Office of the Lady
Chief Justice in developing the plans.
Minister Long said: “Allowing broadcasting in courts will
increase transparency and allow the public to view decisions
being made by the judiciary in Northern Ireland.
“This can only be a good thing, however, I am aware some
respondents to the public consultation did express concerns about
the impact of the proposals on victims and children.
“It's important to stress the broadcasting of certain
court proceedings will, in essence, simply provide another way
for journalists to cover proceedings on which they can already
report.
“Members of the public, including victims, witnesses and
jurors, will not be filmed or recorded.
“Furthermore, the decision on whether a case can be
recorded or broadcast will lie with the individual judge, and any
reporting restrictions will continue to apply regardless of how
proceedings are reported upon.
“This is not about turning our courts into livestream
entertainment; it is about improving public confidence in our
justice system and, as always, victims and witnesses will remain
at the heart of everything we do.”
Types of court proceedings which may be broadcast under the plans
include:
- The handing down of a judgement in the Court of Appeal, as
well as the submissions of legal representatives and exchanges
between legal representatives and the court
- Judges making sentencing remarks in the Crown Court
Only those broadcasters who are permitted in writing by the
Department of Justice will be allowed to record certain
proceedings.
Notes to editors:
- Given the broad support for the recording and broadcasting of
certain court proceedings, the next step will be to bring forward
the proposed primary legislation to provide a power for the
Department, with the agreement of the Lady Chief Justice, to make
secondary legislation in the form of an order to disapply section
29 (Prohibition on taking photographs, etc., in court) of the
Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 and section 9 (Use
of tape recorders) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 in
prescribed circumstances.
- In view of the current legislative programme, this will have
to be deferred until the next Assembly mandate, subject to the
agreement of an incoming Minister and new Executive.
- Summary of responses to public consultation on proposals to
allow the recording and broadcasting of certain court proceedings
are available at www.justice-ni.gov.uk/publications/plans-allow-broadcasting-courts
