Lady Chief Justice Baroness #Carr warns on any extension of televising criminal trials beyond sentencing remarks. @TheCriminalBar

Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr warns on any extension of televising criminal trials beyond sentencing remarks

“She was also concerned about the impact on witnesses and the consequences of screening full trials.

“We don’t want the witness worrying about any more than they already have to worry about.

So it’s getting the best evidence from the witness,” she said. “It’s making sure that nobody starts playing to the crowd.

And I would suggest it also means making sure that people aren’t watching for the wrong reasons,

that they aren’t getting a kick out of somebody’s distress and misery, which is almost inevitably there in these difficult cases.”

Via

“She believed one of the reasons why the introduction of cameras into courts had worked was because it had been done gradually.

“The hallmark has to be maintaining and preserving the administration of justice. The reason it’s worked so well is because I think we rolled it out very slowly,” she added.

However, she was sceptical about following Scotland’s example where the full proceedings can be broadcast if participants consent.

“I have looked quite hard at Scotland because although there is power to broadcast all of the proceedings, that does require all parties’ consent.

That means it hardly ever happens,” she said.”