Pa. Sup. Ct. IOP § 9

A. General Provisions

1. The Supreme Court reserves the right to restrict usage of all sound

recordings and visual images taken in Supreme Court Courtrooms.

Photographing, recording and broadcasting in those areas are permissible

only in accordance with the following provisions.

2. The Executive Administrator of the Supreme Court or his or her designee

(“Executive Administrator”) may permit photographing, recording and

broadcasting in any Supreme Court Courtroom in his or her discretion.

Requests to photograph, record or broadcast sound or images for public

or private use in any media, including, but not limited to, printed, online

and video form, must be submitted to the Executive Administrator at least

three business days before the proposed date of photographing, recording

or broadcasting, or within a shorter period as the Executive Administrator

may determine. Requests to photograph, record or broadcast during

scheduled Supreme Court proceedings will not be entertained.

3. Members of the general public visiting any Supreme Court Courtroom as a

permitted guest or a participant in a supervised tour may take photographs

or record sound or images for their private, non-profit use, unless

otherwise directed by the Executive Administrator. This provision does not

authorize photographing, recording or broadcasting during scheduled

Supreme Court proceedings.

4. When a Supreme Court Courtroom is being used by an executive or

legislative agency, board, commission or similar entity, sections A. 2.-3.

shall not affect that entity's policies relating to photographing, broadcasting

and recording.

B. Photographing, Recording and Broadcasting of Supreme Court

Proceedings by the Pennsylvania Cable Network (“PCN”).

1. General Provisions

a. The recording by PCN of a proceeding before the Supreme Court for

future broadcast on PCN is permissible only in accordance with this

section.

b. A request to be present to record a scheduled proceeding electronically

for future broadcast on PCN must be made at least three business days

before the proceeding. Such requests must be submitted to the Executive

Administrator for approval by the Chief Justice. The Supreme Court shall

maintain discretion to prohibit camera coverage of any proceeding, or any

part thereof, due to the nature of the issues or the sensitivity of the subject

matter of a proceeding.

c. There shall be no coverage of a proceeding involving any case that has

been designated as “sealed.”

d. There shall be no audio pickup or broadcast of conferences between

co-counsel or among the Justices.

e. The Supreme Court may limit or terminate coverage, or direct the

removal of camera coverage personnel, when necessary to protect the

rights of the parties or to assure the orderly conduct of the proceedings.

f. The Supreme Court shall not incur any expense for equipment, wiring or

personnel necessary to provide coverage by PCN.

g. Introductory commentary, if any, shall be supplied by members in good

standing of the Pennsylvania Bar approved by the Supreme Court.

h. All coverage must be “gavel-to-gavel,” including rebroadcasts, with the

exceptions in 1. c.-5e

i. All copyrights to the broadcasts are the possession of the Supreme

Court and may not be used without its approval. PCN shall provide the

Supreme Court with DVD or videotape recordings of all sessions covered

by PCN, whether or not broadcast or aired.

j. Broadcasts are not permitted until a minimum of 48 hours after

recording.

2. Equipment and Personnel

a. Only robotic cameras will be permitted in the courtroom. PCN personnel

shall consult with the Executive Administrator to determine the location in

the courtroom for the camera equipment and operators.

b. Equipment shall not produce distracting sound or light. Signal lights or

devices to show when the equipment is operating shall not be visible.

c. Except as otherwise approved by the Executive Administrator, existing

courtroom sound and light systems shall be used without modification.

Audio pickup for all media purposes shall be accomplished from existing

audio systems present in the court facility, or from a camera's built-in

microphone. If no technically suitable audio system exists in the court

facility, microphones and related wiring essential for media purposes shall

be unobtrusive and shall be located in places designated in advance by

the Executive Administrator.\

d. All equipment must be in place prior to the opening of the court session

and shall not be removed until after the conclusion of the day's

proceedings. Video recording equipment which is not a component part of

a camera shall be located in an area remote from the courtroom. PCN

personnel shall not enter or exit the courtroom once the proceedings are

in session except during a recess or adjournment. PCN personnel shall

wear appropriate attire in the courtroom.

e. PCN personnel shall adhere to the direction of the Executive

Administrator in matters such as security, parking, noise avoidance and

other related issues.

3. Impermissible Use of Material

None of the film, videotape, video discs, still photographs or audio reproductions

developed during or by virtue of coverage of a proceeding shall be admissible as

evidence in the proceeding from which it arose, in any proceeding subsequent or

collateral thereto, or upon any appeal of such proceedings.

Revised: 09/2016