Pilot Project Puts Cameras In Some Courtrooms

UNDATED -- The State of Minnesota starts a two-year pilot project today to allow cameras in the courtroom.

The trial period will allow the cameras and recording devices in limited civil cases for now while the court's rules committee studies the issue.

John Kostouros is the Communications Director for the State Court Administrator's Office. He says when a media group requested the ability to put cameras in the courtroom, not everyone agreed it was a good idea. He said some prosecutors, defense lawyers and victims' advocates opposed the cameras being used in criminal cases.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals and State Supreme Court have allowed cameras in the courtroom for about two decades.But, it's the first time in the lower courts that cameras can be present.

The court's rules committee will ultimately decide whether to allow the cameras in district court permanently, on a limited basis or to open it up even further to include criminal cases.

Several other states already allow cameras including Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota.