Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Oregon Judicial Department Logo

Media Information

Media Guidelines for Public Access Courtroom Coverage in Lane County Circuit Court

Media agencies or personnel desiring media access to court events must familiarize themselves with Uniform Trial Court Rule 3.180.

Any violation of Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rule 3.180 may result in sanctions including but not limited to the termination of media coverage privileges.

  • Only one television camera and/or one still camera each with a single camera operator will be permitted in the courtroom. Cameras and operators must be in designated locations. No interviews may be conducted in the courtrooms, or inside the yellow tape lines on any floor of the courthouse.
  • It is up to the judge, typically through their staff, to decide where cameras and microphones may be placed in the courtroom. Each courtroom is different and judges differ on this so you must ask for assistance to determine camera placement prior to the day of the proceeding.
  • Equipment and camera operators must be in place prior to the court proceeding. Equipment must not be installed, moved or removed from the courtroom while court is in session. Camera operators may not move around the courtroom while court is in session.
  • No artificial lighting device of any kind can be used in the courtroom.
  • Members of the media must comply with the Uniform and Supplemental Court Rules regarding decorum in court proceedings. UTCR Chapter 3. Lane County SLR Chapter 3.
  • News media must arrange any pooling of footage, photographs or audio among themselves. The court will not participate in any pooling agreement. The court will not mediate in the event of disagreements about pooling arrangements. Disagreements about pooling arrangements will not result in additional media equipment being allowed into the courtroom. In the absence of agreement on pooling issues by persons seeking public access coverage, the judge may exclude any or all public access coverage.

The news media can notify the court of their request to provide video, still photographic, or audio coverage of a judicial proceeding by submitting a request for media or other public access coverage of court events. This Media Coverage Request form must be submitted a reasonable time in advance of the start of the proceeding. Court rules require that a original be filed with the court. Fax submissions cannot be accepted.

Only one request is necessary for a given case for each type of media access. Once an application is made, all media requesting similar coverage are considered to have applied. Once an application is submitted for a case, the application will apply through the final judgment.

  • Never photograph jurors or even give the appearance of photographing jurors.
  • There is no media access coverage of any conference or proceedings held in the chambers of a judge.
  • There is no media access coverage of any notes or conversations intended to be private including, but not limited to, counsel and judges at the bench and conferences involving counsel and their clients.
  • No media or public access coverage is allowed during court recesses.
  • Pursuant to General Order. Cameras are not allowed in the jail courtroom or visitor area.