Sentencing remarks by Crown Court judges could be broadcast to
the public under proposals being considered by the Department of
Justice.
Justice Minister has launched a public
consultation on the broadcasting of certain court proceedings in
Northern Ireland.
The consultation is seeking views on proposals to permit the
recording and broadcasting of some court proceedings, including
judgments and legal exchanges in the Court of Appeal and
sentencing remarks in Crown Court cases.
Minister Long is inviting responses from anyone who uses the
courts, people working within the justice system, the media,
community and voluntary sector organisations, and anyone else
with an interest in promoting open justice.
The Minister said: “I welcome this consultation as I
believe that broadcasting of certain court proceedings would be a
positive step in improving the public's right to see justice
being done.
“I am conscious, however, that there may be concerns
around broadcasting of court proceedings, not least the potential
for exacerbating the trauma of victims.
“As always, any change will be victim focused; in
bringing forward these proposals, I wish to make it clear that we
are not proposing to allow the recording or filming of victims,
witnesses or jurors.
“We are also not suggesting that members of the public or
court staff would be filmed.
“I believe the proposals in the consultation support the
principle of open justice while ensuring the rights of victims
and witnesses are fully respected.”
Lady Chief Justice, Dame Siobhan Keegan, has also welcomed the
launch of the consultation.
She said: “The Department's consultation helpfully builds on the
pilot I initiated to test the feasibility of filming the delivery
of judgments in the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal, which
demonstrated that the broadcasting of certain proceedings could
work well in practice while maintaining the solemnity of the
court.”
The consultation paper suggests the types of proceedings that
could initially be broadcast as:
- the handing down of a judgment in the Court of Appeal, as
well as the submissions of legal representatives and exchanges
between legal representatives and the court; and
- judges making sentencing remarks in the Crown Court.
Concluding, the Minister said: “Allowing for greater
transparency in the conduct of court business would help to
improve public understanding of what the judiciary does and how
judicial decisions are made.
“This should enhance public confidence and trust in our
justice system, which is why I am consulting on this important
initiative.”
The closing date for the consultation is Wednesday 16 July 2025.
You can respond via the Department of Justice
website: www.justice-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-broadcasting-courts
or online via CitizenSpace: consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/doj/broadcasting-courts/
Notes to editors:
1. Broadcasting of courts in Northern Ireland is currently
prohibited by two pieces of legislation - the Criminal Justice
Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 and the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
Should the Minister decide to allow the broadcasting of courts,
primary legislation would be needed to provide the Department
with a power, subject to the agreement of the Lady Chief Justice,
to make secondary legislation in the form of an order to disapply
in prescribed circumstances the legislative provisions that
currently prohibit the recording and broadcasting of courts.
2. Given the current legislative programme, it is likely that any
new primary legislation would have to be progressed in the next
Assembly mandate, subject to an incoming Minister and a new
Executive agreeing to legislate on this matter.
