Ind. Sup. Ct. Order: order-other-2025-25S-MS-271

In the

Indiana Supreme Court

Standards Governing Those That Attend

Oral Arguments (Media and Public)

Supreme Court Case No.

25S-MS-271

Order On Standards Governing Those That Attend Oral Arguments

The Court directs that, notwithstanding the prohibitions contained in Canon 2.17 of the

Code of Judicial Conduct, electronic devices may be used by media to cover oral arguments in

accordance with this order, until further order of the Court.

Since 1996, the Indiana Supreme Court has allowed media to use electronic devices to

cover oral arguments, and in 2001, the Court began live webcasting every oral argument.

Technical improvements in 2012 then enabled the Court to act as the pool camera, transmitting

video and audio to media just outside the courtroom. By the end of 2024, the Court had made

over 1,300 arguments available online.

The Court's longstanding commitment to making oral arguments easily accessible to the

public and media continues with this order. The Court therefore issues the following directives

regarding decorum.

Courtroom Decorum

All arguments are scheduled to be webcast live and archived for later viewing. The live

webcast is typically also available on a monitor outside the courtroom.

A. There is limited public seating inside the courtroom; Court staff will determine when

seating will begin. Seating in the front row is only for attorneys associated with the case,

unless Court staff grant permission.

B. To prevent disruption and to promote a fair and effective forum for litigants inside the

courtroom, the Court prohibits clothing, signs, buttons, etc., designed to convey support

for either side of the argument. Court staff will determine what is allowed.

C. Only attorneys arguing the case are allowed to speak during argument; it is not a public

forum for comments.

D. Attendees are not permitted to leave and reenter the courtroom during the argument.

E. The public cannot use electronic devices to capture notes, audio, or video of the

argument.

Media Procedures Decorum

Media, defined as persons employed by or representing a newspaper, periodical, press

association, radio station, television station, or wire service and covered by Indiana Code

section 34-46-4-1, must follow procedures outlined by the Supreme Court’s Office of

Communication, Education & Outreach to request a reserved seat, utilize electronic devices

inside the courtroom, and gain pool audio and video of the arguments. All requests should be

directed to oceo@courts.in.gov at least two (2) business days in advance of an argument. The

following standard operating procedures are used by the Court. These procedures are modified

by the communication office as needed.

Audio/Video Feed

When requested, the Court will provide an audio/video feed to media in a designated area

outside the courtroom under the following terms and conditions:

A. Media are responsible for arriving no later than thirty (30) minutes in advance of oral

argument for set-up and an audio/video technical check.

B. Media must bring their own recording equipment to obtain the Court feed.

C. Media who are not present at the Statehouse cannot receive the Court feed.

D. If the number of media present to take the feed exceeds the number of inputs available

and coordination was not done earlier for media to bring additional inputs, media will

decide amongst themselves which organizations will take the Court feed.

E. To handle a technical problem or unexpected complication, the Office of

Communication, Education & Outreach may permit appointed media to utilize

electronic devices in the courtroom—especially to serve as a pool feed to media outside

the courtroom. Court staff will dictate the logistics.

Media are permitted to record and rebroadcast the live stream from the courts.in.gov

website, which does not require any in-person attendance.

Still Photography

A. The number of photographers inside the courtroom shall be limited to one (1) pool

photographer.

B. The Office of Communication, Education & Outreach will work with media who

submitted timely requests to determine the pool photographer.

C. The pool photographer is required to provide photographs to media that were not

allowed inside the courtroom.

D. Only equipment that does not produce distracting sound or light shall be employed to

cover oral arguments. No flash photography or artificial lighting devices of any kind

shall be used. It is the duty of media personnel to demonstrate adequately to Court staff

in advance of the proceeding that the equipment meets the criteria.

E. Court staff will dictate the location of the photographer.

F. The photographer must remain in place for the proceeding.

Personal Electronic Devices

A. Media must gain authorization from the Office of Communication, Education &

Outreach at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the start of the oral argument to use

portable electronic devices, such as laptop computers, iPads, notebooks, etc., in the

courtroom gallery.

B. Media permitted to use personal electronic devices must be seated in the back row of the

courtroom.

C. All audio sound features of the device must be turned off, and noise created by the use of

the device, including but not limited to typing sounds, must be minimal and not

distracting.

D. Unless specific authority has been granted, the devices may not be used to record video

or audio of any portion of an oral argument or take still photos.

Interviews Before and After Oral Argument

A. Media shall not conduct any interviews inside the courtroom.

B. To maintain safety and reduce noise, media shall conduct all interviews in the North

Atrium outside the courtroom away from the stairs and at least forty (40) feet away from

the courtroom's main doors before and after an oral argument.

Anyone who does not abide by these policies may be ordered to leave the courtroom and

may be banned from future arguments.

The Clerk is directed to send copies of this order to Supreme Court Public Information

Officer Kathryn Dolan, the Supreme Court Sheriff, and the Office of Court Services, Division of

Supreme Court Services. The Clerk is also directed to post this order on the Court's website.

Done at Indianapolis, Indiana, on ____________ .

Loretta H. Rush

Chief Justice of Indiana

All Justices concur.

10/9/2025