Court Grants Motion to Remove Media Cameras from Kohberger Hearings and Trial

Amy Jacobson — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 22:14:28 +0000

Read Time:1 Minute, 57 Second

MOSCOW, Id – Judge John C. Judge published his ruling in the matter of the motion filed by the defendant, Bryan C. Kohberger, on August 24, 2023, asking that cameras be prohibited in the courtroom. A motion to which The Associated Press filed a motion in opposition of removing cameras from the courtroom.

The press argued that “continuing to allow audio/visual coverage of the proceedings is the only way to ensure that the many community members affected by these crimes throughout the University of Idaho, Moscow, the State of Idaho, and the cities in which the victims’ family members reside have an opportunity to see and hear the proceedings for themselves.”

After the arrest of Kohberger on December 30, 2022, media coverage quickly focused on Kohberger and continues to be flooded with articles and posts focused on Kohberger. This coverage raised concerns surrounding Kohberger’s right to a fair trail by an impartial jury. The court recognizes “the high-profile nature of the case and the extensive coverage it has received, along with the need to minimize possible pretrial prejudice.”

The defense presented examples in their motion of media cameras zooming in on Kohberger despite the Court’s against this practice, instead ordering they capture the courtroom in its entirety. “It is the intense focus on Kohberger and his every move, along with adverse headlines and news articles, that leads the Court to conclude that continued photograph and video coverage inside the courtroom by the media should no longer be permitted.”

Both the state and defense are in agreement with the need to prohibit cameras from the courtroom. The state arguing concern of “vulnerable victims and witnesses” that may be called to testify in either hearings and/or the trial. Practices by the media thus far leaves no confidence that they won’t show these victims and witnesses, despite any ruling by the court.

It is with these reasonings, as laid out in the judge’s order, that he has banned media cameras, video and still, from the courtroom. He will, however, continue to allow a court operated video system to be operated and that live video will be live streamed on the Court’s YouTube channel.

Click link to go the Court’s YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOFrQpvtre9HRSzhY-zhCA