Project "cameras in the courtroom"
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Public defense and visual media are both staples of our public life in the United States. The creed of public defenders is to defend all those who cannot afford an attorney. For visual journalists, the creed is to tell stories with honesty and accuracy, no matter what the story is. Both staples have been the subject of countless articles of research, but rarely together as part of the same inquiry. This analysis examines the interaction between visual media in the courtroom and the impact they may have on Missouri public defenders. Nine attorneys were interviewed. Although some are currently in management or appellate positions, the stories told were about their time as trial attorneys in the system. Although there are more media outlets available in urban offices versus suburban versus rural, other factors found in criminal procedure have more of an effect on whether cases get visual media coverage. Fears do exist among public defenders about how a camera could affect the outcome of a trial, but the rules and regulations of courtroom media policy often prevents such fears from coming true. Finally, although public defenders can see the benefits of engaging more with media, their caution and care for the clients prevents them from doing so.
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M.A.