For the Media

Court Rules on Media Access

Media access to the courtroom is governed by Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR) section 3.180. Any member of the media must be familiar with these rules.

Additionally, Lane County has adopted Supplementary Local Rules (SLR) for media coverage described in Lane County SLR Chapter 3.

Requesting Media Access for a Proceeding

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 an 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.

Equipment and Operators

• 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. 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.
• News media must arrange 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 in the courtroom. If pooling issues arise, the judge may exclude any or all public access coverage.

Limitations on Access

• 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.

Public Information Requests

See Records Requests