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Local media applauds cameras in courts being made permanent

Yesterday the Illinois Supreme Court announced that the four year old pilot program to test cameras in state courtrooms was a success and the policy will be made permanent. 

The high court said 15 of the 24 judicial circuits have allowed cameras in courtrooms, including the ninth circuit.

It’s worth noting as reported by The Quincy Herald-Whig, Knox is the only county in the ninth circuit to allow a trial to be photographed.

The refrain from opponents of allowing cameras into courts is that cameras could be disruptive and undermine defendants’ rights.

WQAD News Director Alan Baker says the last thing he wants to do is distract from a trial.

“Our goal is not to interrupt proceedings at all,” Baker says. “Our goal is to be invisible and to be another set of eyes for the ones that actually can’t be there in person.”

Ninth Circuit Judge Paul Mangieri calls the supreme court’s decision a “good call.”

“Because at every level of the judicial system, it’s important to note that we do the people’s work,” Mangieri says. “People have an interest in seeing how the judicial process flows.”

WGIL’s own Antwon R. Martin is the Knox County media liasion and reports that Knox County had three extended media coverage requests last year but there’s already been three for 2016.

In fact, WQAD had a camera in Knox County Circuit Court today for the preliminary hearing of Claude Shinall, who faces first degree murder charges.

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