Bill > S818

This bill, the Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2021, would allow federal appellate and district court judges to permit the photographing, electronic recording, broadcasting, or televising of court proceedings at their discretion, with some exceptions to protect due process rights and the safety and security of individuals. The bill requires the Judicial Conference of the United States to promulgate mandatory guidelines for obscuring the images and voices of certain vulnerable witnesses, such as crime victims and minors. The bill also grants judges the authority to regulate media use in the courtroom and prohibits the broadcast of conferences between attorneys and their clients.