Web cams opening courtroom doors

Earlier this month, a Delaware judge made court history by allowing live video streaming of a high-profile civil trial over the Internet.

From city council meetings to other gatherings of public interest, growing technology is allowing such events to be broadcast live over the Internet via video streaming software already installed on most computers.

At least one local law professor says in the effort to promote public access to the courts, and government transparency, it is time for Utah courts to not only open their physical doors but to open their cyber-doors as well.

This new concept stems from a trial in which shareholders of Walt Disney Co. are suing the mouse-eared mega corporation for buying out the contract of former corporate president Michael Ovitz with a $140 million severance package, which shareholders say is an abuse of funds.

Recognizing that interest in the trial could expand far beyond the rural Georgetown courtroom, the judge in the case has allowed the trial to be broadcast over the Internet. The live video feed will be free to Delaware residents, but out-of-state viewers will pay about $10 a day to take part, according to news reports.

With streaming video Web cams featuring views from mountaintops to college dorm rooms and fish tanks, why can't live video be put to use in benefitting the public's access to open government? Already some local cities, such as West Jordan, are exploring how to broadcast video of city council meetings over the Net.

University of Utah law professor Erik Luna said Utah courts should adopt a policy to allow video broadcast of most court proceedings.

"I think that this is generally a positive movement with great benefits towards open government, towards transparency in the courtroom and a greater understanding of how our legal system works," Luna said.

Currently, court rules in Utah do not allow outside video cameras and audio recorders in courtrooms, such as those from television stations. Still photography is allowed only at a judge's discretion.

Most courtrooms in Utah are equipped with an internal video system, which is managed by the court clerk. Proceedings are videotaped as a verbatim version of the official court record. Although the tapes are kept for internal court purposes, they can be accessed by the public through court records requests but are viewed at the courthouse.

Court officials said an audio stream of oral arguments in the Utah Supreme Court is sent to the Utah Attorney General's Office via the Internet but is not available to the public at this time.