ELECTRONIC MEDIA RULES
District Courts of Harris County
Civil Trial Division
 

            1.         Policy.  The policy of these rules is to guarantee a just, fair, equitable and impartial adjudication of the rights of the litigants and allow an opportunity for electronic media coverage of public civil court proceedings to facilitate the free flow of information to the public concerning the judicial system and to foster better public understanding about the administration of justice.  These rules are to be construed to maintain the dignity, decorum, and impartiality of the court proceeding, while at the same time providing the greatest access possible.

            2.         Definitions.  Certain terms are defined for purposes of these rules as follows.

            2.1.      "Court" means the particular judge or master who is presiding over the proceeding.

            2.2.      "Electronic media coverage" means any recording or broadcasting of court proceedings by the media using television, radio, photographic or recording equipment.

            2.3.      "Media" or "media agency" means any person or organization engaging in news gathering or reporting and includes any newspaper, radio or television station or network, news service, magazine, trade paper, in-house publication, professional journal, or other news reporting or news gathering agency. 

            3.         Electronic media coverage permitted.

                        3.1       In each case, the trial judge shall determine the appropriate scope of electronic  media coverage permitted.

                        3.2       Objections by any party to such scope of electronic media coverage shall be presented to the trial court for ruling..

            4.         Electronic media coverage prohibited.

            4.1.      Electronic media coverage of proceedings held in chambers, proceedings closed to the public, jury selection, and jury deliberation is prohibited.

            4.2.      Conferences between an attorney and client, witness or aide, between attorneys, or between counsel and the court at the bench shall not be recorded or received by sound equipment.

            4.3.      The restrictions and prohibitions in these rules may be waived by the express consent of the parties and all affected persons, with the approval of the court.

            5.         Equipment and personnel.  The court may require media personnel to demonstrate that proposed equipment complies with these rules, and may exclude from the courtroom any media person who fails to comply with these rules.  The court may specify the placement of media personnel and equipment to permit reasonable coverage without disruption to the proceedings.  Unless the court in its discretion and for good cause orders otherwise, the following standards apply to the placement and operation of media equipment:

            5.1.      One television camera, one audio recording machine, and one still photographer are permitted.  In appropriate circumstances, the court in its discretion may allow an unmanned second camera into the courtroom.

            5.2.      Equipment shall not produce distracting sound or light.  Signal lights or devices which show when equipment is operating shall not be visible.  Moving lights, flash attachments, or sudden lighting changes shall not be used.

            5.3.      Existing courtroom sound and lighting systems shall be used without modification unless the court specifically approves modification. 

            5.4.      Operators shall not move equipment while the court is in session, or otherwise cause a distraction.  All equipment shall be in place in advance of the commencement of the proceeding or session that is the subject of the coverage.

            5.5.      Media personnel operating outside the courtroom shall not create a distraction and shall withdraw whenever necessary to avoid restricting movement of persons passing through the courtroom door.
            5.6.      Media logos or proprietary trademarks shall not be displayed on cameras, microphones, other equipment used in court, or clothing or name tags on personnel.

             6.         Delay of proceedings.  No proceeding or session will be delayed or continued for the sole purpose of allowing media coverage.  Upon request, the court will inform media agencies of settings and will attempt to make the courtroom available in advance for the purpose of installing equipment. 

            7.         Pooling.  If more than one media agency of one type wish to cover a proceeding or session, they shall make pool arrangements.  If they are unable to agree, the court may deny all electronic media coverage by that type of media agency, or may designate one agency or one representative as pool coordinator, specifying such other conditions of pool coverage as may be necessary.
            8.         Official record.  Films, videotapes, photographs or audio reproductions made in court proceedings shall not be considered part of the official court record.

             9.         Enforcement.  A violation of these rules by the electronic media may be sanctioned by appropriate measures, including, without limitation, barring the particular person or agency from access to future electronic media coverage of proceedings in that courtroom for a defined period of time.

             10.       Effective date.  Effective 1991; amended January 3, 1996.