Lawyers back idea of TV cameras in court

LAWYERS and academics have voiced overwhelming support for the introduction of television cameras in courts after the first broadcast of sentencing from a Scottish court this month.

A survey by Scottish Legal News showed almost half of those asked thought cameras should become a regular fixture in court as part of a move towards wider media access to the legal system.

The findings add to the momentum for greater digitalisation of legal proceedings, with permission also having been given for people to tweet from some court cases.

The Scottish Court Service has said it will judge each case on its merits – and on levels of public interest – before deciding whether to allow filming.

It is understood part of its caution was down to wanting to see how the sentencing of David Gilroy went.

When STV cameras focused on Lord Bracadale describing the “chilling calmness and calculation” with which Gilroy, 49, went about disposing of the body of Suzanne Pilley, 38, it was the first time in the UK that a High Court sentencing had been filmed for on-the-day news programmes.

Following its success, Scottish Legal News asked: “Do you believe TV cameras should be allowed into courts?” Out of 565 respondents, 367 said Yes..

Baktosch Gillan, its editor, said: “There should be a presumption in favour of broadcasting from courts, but the judges should be trusted to use their discretion to ensure that it is measured, that the vulnerable are protected, and that witnesses and counsel do not perform for the camera.”

A bail application relating to Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was also filmed, after his counsel, Maggie Scott, gave her consent.