Cameras in the Courts

Nearly every state in the union has provisions to allow the media to use video cameras and microphones in courtrooms in some circumstances. In some, cameras are a routine sight at the trial court level. In others, on the state's appellate courts or supreme court have cameras, operated by the courts themselves. For the members of the media, understanding the rules and procedures in your state is necessary to provide the best and most complete coverage of your government's judicial branch in action.

RTDNA is the nation's leading advocate of opening courtrooms at all levels to electronic media coverage and works with newsroom and court leaders across the country to develop clear and fair rules to allows journalists and judges to best serve the people. To assist members of the media in understanding current court rules and procedures, we have developed the RTDNA Cameras in the Courts State By State Guide. Included here are the most current policies from each state, with links to relevant resources and complete details.

The RTDNA Cameras in the Courts State By State Guide is produced in cooperation with the Washington, DC law firm of Wiley Rein, LLP. It was developed by RTDNA Counsel Kathleen Kirby, Associate Kathleen Scott and Associate Ashley Criss. The current version was completely revised in late 2022 and is updated as laws and rules change. For questions regarding specifc rules in your state, please follow the links provided in each state section. If you believe the rules in your state are being overlooked or incorrectly applied, RTDNA may be able to help. Please contact us if you need assistance.

State Guide

Click below to find the guide for your state

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas

Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina

North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

 

Federal Guide

First Circuit Second Circuit Third Circuit Fourth Circuit

Fifth Circuit Sixth Circuit Seventh Circuit Eighth Circuit

Ninth Circuit Tenth Circuit Eleventh Circuit District of Columbia Circuit Federal

 

State

 

Alabama

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? No
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No, but judges can authorize on a case-by-case basis

 

Alaska

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Sexual assault victims (unless the victim agrees), jurors, minors (unless charged as adults in a criminal case), and bench conferences 
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Arizona

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Juvenile Court, jury proceedings, and bench conferences 
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Arkansas

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Closed proceedings, circuit court juvenile proceedings, circuit court probate and domestic violence proceedings, and drug court proceedings 
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

California

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Los Angeles Superior Court, San Francisco Superior Court, and Orange County Superior Court
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Colorado

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Closed proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Connecticut

Allows Cameras? Yes
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Delaware

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? Non-jury, non-confidential proceedings where presiding judge grants limited permission
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

District of Columbia

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? Request permission to take photographs
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Florida

Allows Cameras? Yes
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Yes, with permission

 

Georgia

Allows Cameras? Yes
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? None

 

Hawaii

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Closed proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Idaho

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Closed proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Illinois

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Supreme Court Orders grant permission in some courts
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Yes

 

Indiana

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Each trial court has its own unique policy
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Iowa

Allows Cameras? No, but can request permission
Exceptions? Closed proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Kansas

Allows Cameras? Yes, with notice
Exceptions? Closed proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No, but presiding judge can grant exceptions in specific cases with advanced notice 

 

Kentucky

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Juvenile court
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Louisiana

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? Appellate courts upon request
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Maine

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Family Division cases and trade secret subject matter 
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Maryland

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Criminal trials
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Massachusetts

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Motions to suppress, dismiss, or of probable cause; jury selection hearings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Yes

 

Michigan

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Minnesota

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Only notice is required for appellate courts
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Mississippi

Allows Cameras? Yes, with notice
Exceptions? Closed proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Missouri

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Closed proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Montana

Allows Cameras? Yes, with notice
Exceptions? Closed proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Nebraska

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Coverage is prohibited in specific proceedings as listed in Article 20, § 6-2003(F).
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Nevada

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

New Hampshire

Allows Cameras? Yes, with notice
Exceptions? Supreme Court proceedings require express permission
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

New Jersey

Allows Cameras? Yes, with a signed agreement and permission
Exceptions? Juvenile court
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Yes, with permission

 

New Mexico

Allows Cameras? Yes, with notice
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

New York

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

North Carolina

Allows Cameras? Yes, in designated media booths
Exceptions? Closed proceedings, presiding judge can exempt booth requirement and maintains discretion to close court proceedings regarding juvenile matters and involuntary commitment matters 
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

North Dakota

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Ohio

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Oklahoma

Allows Cameras? No rules
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? No
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Oregon

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Cases involving family law and juveniles, trade secrets, and sex offense proceedings (at the victim's request)
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Yes, with permission

 

Pennsylvania

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? Non-jury, non-confidential proceedings where presiding judge grants limited permission
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Rhode Island

Allows Cameras? Yes
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

South Carolina

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

South Dakota

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Tennessee

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Closed and juvenile court proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Texas

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Unclear

 

Utah

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Vermont

Allows Cameras? Yes, with registration
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Yes, with permission

 

Virginia

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Closed proceedings, in addition to juvenile court and matters involving family law, sexual offense, and trade secrets
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Washington

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Unclear

 

West Virginia

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Wisconsin

Allows Cameras? Yes, with notice
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Yes, with permission

 

Wyoming

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Federal

 

First Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Second Circuit

Allows Cameras? Yes, with notice 
Exceptions? Criminal matters and civil or criminal pro se proceedings
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Third Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Fourth Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Fifth Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Sixth Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Seventh Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? Oral arguments, with permission given by the court only after receiving a request for video recording at least one week in advance 
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Eighth Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Ninth Circuit

Allows Cameras? Yes, with permission
Exceptions? Conferences between attorneys and clients, co-counsel, or among panel members
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? Yes
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? Yes, with permission

 

Tenth Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Eleventh Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

District of Columbia Circuit

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No

 

Federal Court

Allows Cameras? No
Exceptions? None
Audio or Video Webcast? Yes
Media Guide Available? No
Allows Cell Phones to Record Video? No